Pärnu to replace public recycling dumpsters with curbside pickup in 2027
The council of Pärnu, a city in southwestern Estonia, has unanimously approved a 2027–2031 waste management plan. It moves sorted packaging waste to household pickup, leaving only public glass containers.
The Pärnu City Council in southwestern Estonia unanimously approved the city's waste management plan for 2027–2031 on Thursday. The document clears the way for a new system in which sorted waste is collected from households rather than from public dumpsters. Under the plan, public paper and packaging containers will disappear from the city, and only glass collection containers will remain.
The plan will take effect next fall.
What residents will pay
Deputy Mayor Robert Kiviselg said producer responsibility organizations, which represent manufacturers, will cover much of the cost of the new system. Under state rules, households will pay 50 cents per quarter for paper and cardboard and another 50 cents for other mixed packaging. Residents will be able to choose between special bags and dedicated recycling bins.
Why the system is changing
Public recycling dumpsters have often been troubled by problems, including considerable amounts of waste being put in the wrong containers. Curbside pickup should make it easier to ensure residents sort their waste correctly.
Ivo Jaanisoo, deputy secretary general at Estonia's Ministry of Climate, said many households across the country have already become better at sorting. He said separate biowaste pickup from people's homes has been offered since last year, and that it has already shown results.
