First reading of the Draft Act on Amendments to the Waste Act, the Traffic Act, and the State Fees Act (461 SE)
Session: 15th Estonian Parliament, 4th sitting, plenary session
Date: 2024-09-18 23:10
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 36
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 54m
AI Summaries: 36/36 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The presentation addressed the first reading of Bill 461, initiated by the government, concerning amendments to the Waste Act, the Traffic Act, and the State Fees Act. The central objective of the bill is to reduce the number of lost and non-visible vehicles and to clarify the obligations related to registration and dismantling certificates in the context of both waste management and the administration of the motor vehicle register. Furthermore, the regulation of vintage vehicles will be specified, and producer responsibility will be extended to ensure more efficient collection and recycling of end-of-life vehicles. Various transition plans and fees are also foreseen concerning deregistration and settlements related to environmental charges, which affect owners and handlers.
The main amendments of the bill are: the owner of a registered vehicle has the option to temporarily deregister a vehicle with a suspended registration entry or hand it over to a handler; automatic deletion of the registration entry will begin in 2026 for vehicles whose suspended entry has lasted for more than seven years, and the owner will be sent a notification; and higher fees and clearer requirements for the collection and handover of scrap vehicles will enter into force starting in 2027. In addition, the regulation of vintage vehicles will be improved so that the quality and criteria of vintage vehicle clubs are more clearly defined, and that vintage vehicles are more effectively protected and preserved as cultural heritage.
Decisions Made 6
The first reading is concluded; the first reading has been concluded.
Place the draft resolution on the Plenary Session agenda for September 18th, by consensus.
To propose concluding the first reading by consensus.
To appoint the present speaker as the representative of the leading committee, also by consensus.
Request the opinion of the Economic Committee regarding Sections 2 through 4 of the draft bill no later than October 3rd of the current year.
The deadline for the submission of amendments is October 2nd of the current year, at 5:15 PM.
Most Active Speaker
Andres Metsoja – Isamaa faction, from the right-wing camp; the most active speaker and questioner, representing the discussion of national waste and environmental sector topics, and focusing on environmental economic operations.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Today's agenda item concerns Government-initiated draft bill 461, which amends the Waste Act, the Traffic Act, and the State Fees Act, and is scheduled for its first reading. The presentation will be given by Infrastructure Minister Vladimir Svet.
Taristuminister Vladimir Svet
AI Summary
The proposal amends the Waste Act and the Traffic Act in order to reduce the number of vehicles whose location is unknown, eliminate the automatic application of registration suspension starting in 2025, increase the free collection and scrapping of end-of-life vehicles, and specify the regulation concerning historic vehicles. Simultaneously, it establishes fees and mechanisms with transition periods, while reducing the administrative burden and enhancing legal clarity.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chair thanked the Minister, noted that there were questions, and introduced his colleague Mart Võrklaev as the first questioner.
Mart Võrklaev
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Võrklaev is asking for clarification on whether the obligation to collect old cars and the annual collection round will be placed under a responsibility financed by the car dealer or the car manufacturer, what this entails, and how significant the resulting impact will be on the disposal of scrap vehicles.
Taristuminister Vladimir Svet
AI Summary
Vladimir Svet stated that the reuse of end-of-life vehicles and their components represents valuable scrap metal. Moving forward, their collection and disposal must be organized within the framework of contractual and extended producer responsibility (EPR) involving handlers and importers. This measure will boost materials recycling and introduce a greater volume of scrap metal into the economy.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman invites Arvo Aller to speak.
Arvo Aller
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Arvo Aller asked whether the waste management company checks the vehicle's ownership status and whether any vehicle can be taken to the company for deregistration.
Taristuminister Vladimir Svet
AI Summary
He said that the operator verifies whether the transferor has the authority to hand over the vehicle.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The speaker asks that Andres Metsoja be called to the stage.
Andres Metsoja
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Andres Metsoja is asking the minister how the 800-euro environmental levy, which takes effect starting in 2027, will impact people who keep older cars near their fence or garage for spare parts, and whether this will make their lives impossible or simply not worth the trouble.
Taristuminister Vladimir Svet
AI Summary
Vladimir Svet stated that Estonia's objective is to reduce the number of scrap vehicles and channel these donor cars to waste management operators. The state does not plan to inspect people's private property or storage conditions, and starting in 2027, the owner of a donor vehicle will have a choice: either keep the car and pay the vehicle tax, or submit it for proper waste treatment.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar called Jüri Jaanson to the stage.
Jüri Jaanson
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Jüri Jaanson pointed out that the minister's speech included five basic options for scrapping used cars. The last two of these options address situations where the car has actually disappeared but remains suspended in the traffic register. Furthermore, deletion from the register is time-limited before a larger environmental tax comes into effect. Therefore, he is interested in knowing whether there are plans to inform car owners, as they may not be aware that the deletion process is now free of charge.
Taristuminister Vladimir Svet
AI Summary
If this law is adopted, the Transport Administration will immediately inform the owners of vehicles with suspended registration entries about the transition period and how they can free of charge deregister their vehicles, re-register them, reactivate them, temporarily deregister them, or hand them over to a waste handler. Approximately 223,000 people need to be informed through meetings with residents, and the Transport Administration and the Ministry of Climate will also send official notification letters.
Arvo Aller
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Arvo Aller brought up the Transport Administration's planned location-based photo application. This application would use tamper-proof technology to verify the existence of a vehicle, allowing its entry to be deleted or transferred in the register. However, it raises questions regarding accessibility for older people and how verification will ensure the photo was actually taken by the owner.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar called upon Arvo Aller to speak.
Taristuminister Vladimir Svet
AI Summary
Infrastructure Minister Vladimir Svet stated that while a digital solution is primarily used to identify the car owner, if it fails, an official will verify the ownership via an on-site inspection, confirming the vehicle is in the individual's yard or garage. The aim is to avoid excessive bureaucracy by adopting a solution similar to those used by insurance companies; in the worst-case scenario, a reasonable alternative will be identified.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar calls upon Andres Metsoja to speak.
Andres Metsoja
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Metsoja's speech addresses the topic of donor cars and the environmental fee, noting that starting in 2026, the owner must prove the car's existence and perform a technical inspection within seven years. Otherwise, the vehicle will be deleted from the register, and an 800-euro fee must be paid for deregistration. This raises the question of whether, in some cases, the car tax paid is significantly less than the environmental fee, and ultimately, the 800-euro fee might remain unpaid.
Taristuminister Vladimir Svet
AI Summary
Infrastructure Minister Vladimir Svet announced that the deletion of the registry entry will occur just once next year, in 2026. Following this, vehicle owners will be required to regularly prove to the Transport Agency that they still possess the vehicle. However, the cheapest option is to take the car to a scrapyard, earn money from it, and then decide whether to pay the car tax or the state duty. People have two years to make this decision. The deletion fee is free during the first year, but in the second year, 2026, it will cost 15 euros.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar invites Urve Tiidus to take the floor.
Urve Tiidus
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Urve Tiidus posed a hypothetical question regarding the number of scrap cars (224,000, although up to 300,000 was discussed in the committee) and asked how many people would actually get rid of their end-of-life vehicles because of this law, which I think is relatively good.
Taristuminister Vladimir Svet
AI Summary
Infrastructure Minister Vladimir Svet stated that the 223,000 vehicles are not exclusively end-of-life vehicles (ELVs); they have been collected through campaigns organized by both the state and local governments. He noted that the legislation also motivates those whom previous campaigns failed to reach, because every scrap vehicle that reaches the hands of processors increases the volume of recyclable materials and is therefore economically beneficial. Moreover, the sooner these ELVs are moved off the streets, the safer our cities will be and the more parking spaces will become available.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar offers thanks and addresses Anti Allas with a request.
Anti Allas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Anti Allas gave the bill partial praise, highlighting the need for proper registry management and the reduction of end-of-life vehicles. However, he expressed concern regarding the automatic vehicle taxation of vehicles with deleted registration records—particularly vintage and historically significant vehicles—noting that temporarily deregistered vehicles are tax-exempt in other parts of the world. He then inquired whether it would be possible to introduce amendments during the legislative process that would bring the state and the community closer together and make living in the country more palatable for everyone.
Taristuminister Vladimir Svet
AI Summary
He stated that the motor vehicle tax will take effect for vehicles with suspended registration records starting in 2027. He added that they plan to continue addressing this matter in the Riigikogu and the committee, but emphasized that the car tax does not fall under his area of responsibility.
Jüri Jaanson
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Jüri Jaanson announced the start of a two-year period for scrapping vehicles, involving a hypothetical volume of approximately 223,000 cars (over 300 vehicles per day), and asked whether waste management companies were prepared for such an initiative.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar invites Jüri Jaanson to speak.
Taristuminister Vladimir Svet
AI Summary
Minister of Infrastructure Vladimir Svet confirmed that the draft legislation was finalized following extensive consultation with numerous organizations and businesses. He added that the Estonian vehicle scrapping sector is prepared, noting that there are many companies nationwide holding environmental permits, and although a backlog and increased competition may occur, potentially affecting the value of the scrap vehicle, the sector is not a monopoly.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman thanked the Minister, noting that there were no questions, and invited Mait Klaassen to present the Environmental Committee's discussion.
Mait Klaassen
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
The draft bill discussed in the presentation aims to direct end-of-life vehicles into recycling and reuse, and regulate the deregistration of vehicles, state fees, the use of the certificate of destruction, issues related to old registry records and illegal waste handlers, and expand producer responsibility. The committee decided to place the draft bill on the plenary agenda for September 18th, conclude the first reading by consensus, designate the committee represented by the speaker as the lead committee, and request the opinion of the Economic Affairs Committee regarding the relevant sections of the bill no later than October 3rd.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman thanked the rapporteur, noted that there were no questions, declared the start of the debate, and invited Andres Metsoja, the representative of the Isamaa faction, to the podium.
Andres Metsoja
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
The presentation explains the follow-up concept of the vehicle tax but highlights a critical bottleneck: if a vehicle is removed from the register, old scrap vehicles might completely fall outside of the circulation system, and it is necessary to ensure their actual recycling and environmental protection.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar offered his thanks, announced that there were no further requests to speak, and invited the Minister to take the floor, as he wished.
Taristuminister Vladimir Svet
AI Summary
To put it in one sentence: the draft bill solves this bottleneck and gives a responsible person the opportunity to get rid of the donor car either completely free of charge or even for a profit, provided there is still something valuable in the car and they hand the vehicle over to a waste handler instead of dismantling it themselves.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar concluded the debate, announcing that the first reading of Bill 461 has been completed and the deadline for submitting amendments is 5:15 PM on October 2nd of the current year.