The state is allocating 35 million euros in support to local municipalities to improve separate waste collection systems and prepare for the upcoming waste reform. With this funding, municipalities can develop sorting infrastructure, including collection points, waste stations, and digital solutions.

Minister of Climate Affairs Kuldar Leis emphasized the importance of this support: “For companies to be able to turn waste into something useful, the material must first be correctly collected from households – and that starts with making it simple and convenient for people to sort their waste.” The amount of support ranges from 75,000 to 2 million euros, depending on the type of activity. Municipalities can use it to purchase the necessary equipment for separate collection, build or upgrade collection points and waste stations, and implement digital tools that promote better waste separation.

The support measure is managed by the Environmental Investment Centre, and the application round will open no later than June 2. To assist municipalities, the Environmental Agency has created a waste management model that helps with more effective planning and also supports the application process. In addition, an overview of tools for collecting municipal waste separately has been compiled to help municipalities make informed decisions to increase waste sorting and optimize costs.

The national goal is to strengthen the role of municipalities in organizing separate waste collection, as from 2026, they must ensure separate collection of biowaste in densely populated areas. This means municipalities need flexible and efficient solutions to implement these changes in a timely manner and in line with new regulations.