Second Reading of the Draft Act Amending the Waste Act (Bill 676 SE)
Session: XV Riigikogu, VI Session, Plenary Sitting
Date: 2025-11-11 14:40
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 3
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 6m
AI Summaries: 3/3 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
As part of the agenda item, the second reading of Draft Act 676 amending the Waste Act, initiated by the Government of the Republic, took place. The report was presented by Yoko Alender, Chairman of the Environment Committee. The main objective of the draft act is the transposition of the Batteries and Accumulators Directive and the improvement of the recycling of valuable materials, such as rare earth metals, from electronic and battery waste.
In preparation for the second reading, the Environment Committee reviewed four amendments focusing on electronic waste and the responsibility of digital platforms. The most significant amendment concerned digital platforms (e.g., Temu and other resellers operating outside the EU), creating the possibility for them to register as producers and fulfill Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) obligations on behalf of their thousands of merchants. This should introduce greater fairness into the system and increase the volume of materials entering the recycling stream. The report also emphasized the need to improve the fulfillment of battery collection targets (the goal is 65%, up from the current 40–42%) and to expand awareness campaigns regarding collection points in major shopping centers. The Environment Committee unanimously supported all amendments. Discussions were not opened, and all four amendments submitted by the lead committee were fully taken into account. The second reading of the draft act was concluded.
Decisions Made 5
Amendment No. 1 (Environmental Committee) was fully adopted.
Amendment No. 2 (Environment Committee) was fully adopted.
Amendment No. 3 (Committee on the Environment) was fully adopted.
Amendment No. 4 (Environmental Committee) was adopted in full.
The second reading of Bill 676 SE was concluded.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker was Yoko Alender, the Chair of the Environment Committee, who presented a detailed report on the draft legislation.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Arvo Aller moved on to the fourth item on the agenda, which was the second reading of Draft Act 676 on amendments to the Waste Act, initiated by the Government of the Republic, and invited Yoko Alender, Chairman of the Environment Committee, to present the report.
Yoko Alender
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Yoko Alender provided an overview of the amendments to the Waste Act that were supported by consensus in the Environment Committee. The purpose of these amendments is to improve the functioning of the circular economy by extending producer responsibility to digital platforms, thereby ensuring better recycling of valuable materials from batteries, accumulators, and electronic equipment, and increasing collection targets, which are currently significantly lower in Estonia than the required 65%.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller chaired the sitting, during which discussions were immediately closed. Four amendments submitted by the leading committee were reviewed and fully considered, after which the second reading of Draft Act 676 SE was concluded, thereby exhausting the agenda item and ending the sitting.