Inquiry Regarding the Problems at the Uikala Waste Disposal Site (no. 776)
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 6th sitting, plenary session
Date: 2025-09-22 22:28
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 32
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 24m
AI Summaries: 32/32 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The Riigikogu debated the response of Minister of Infrastructure Kuldar Leis to the interpellation concerning the problems of the Uikala landfill (No. 776), submitted by Riigikogu members Lauri Laats, Andrei Korobeinik, Vadim Belobrovtsev, Aleksandr Tšaplõgin, and Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart. The submitter of the interpellation, Lauri Laats, highlighted the recurring fires at the landfill, which waste rescue resources (e.g., the massive fire in May 2024, involving 200 rescuers over nine days), and the large tax debt of the landfill operator (Ekovir OÜ), which exceeded 2.5 million euros at the time of submission. Laats criticized the state's "toothlessness" in resolving the situation.
Minister Kuldar Leis confirmed that he was aware of the problems and had discussed them with the Minister of the Environment. He agreed that the problems at Uikala damage the credibility of the entire waste management sector. As a solution, Leis referred to the waste reform bill (657 SE) currently under proceedings in the Riigikogu, which separates transport and handling tenders, thereby increasing competition and transparency. Regarding the "black scenario," where the company ceases operations, the minister noted that the Environmental Board has analyzed the scenarios. Responsibility first falls to the landowner, Toila municipality, but the Ministry of Climate promised to support the local government (KOV) and, if necessary, use the emergency funds of KIK (Environmental Investments Centre). Leis added that Ekovir is making efforts to improve the situation by closing disposal areas (two out of three are closed, the third is planned by the end of the year) and that the tax debt (currently 2.1 million euros) has been scheduled for installment payments. During the debate, Vladimir Arhipov and Lauri Laats criticized the lack of clarity in the state's crisis plan and the insufficient role of local governments (KOV), emphasizing that the problems in Uikala and elsewhere (e.g., the Jõelähtme landfill) are systemic and threaten the living environment.
Decisions Made 1
Decisions were not made
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The Riigikogu is moving forward with the seventh interpellation (Inquiry No. 776), which was submitted by Riigikogu members Lauri Laats, Andrei Korobeinik, Vadim Belobrovtsev, Aleksandr Tšaplõgin, and Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart on May 13, 2025, concerning the problems of the Uikala landfill. The interpellators request Riigikogu member Lauri Laats to serve as the rapporteur.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Arvo Aller moved on to the seventh item on the agenda, which was an interpellation submitted by members of the Riigikogu concerning the problems of the Uikala landfill, and asked Lauri Laats to be the presenter on behalf of the interpellators.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats raised an inquiry regarding the repeated fires and environmental damage caused by the Uikala landfill, criticizing the state's inability to act decisively in resolving the situation, especially considering that the landfill owes the state over 2.5 million euros in taxes, the extinguishing of every fire drains taxpayer funds, and the state is unable to call the company owners to account.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats highlights the environmental damage caused by the repeated fires at the Uikala landfill and the company's tax debt to the state, which exceeds 2.5 million euros. He emphasizes the waste of resources expended on emergency response efforts and the necessity of shutting down the company, and has submitted an official query to the Minister of Infrastructure seeking answers.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Arvo Aller asks the Minister of Infrastructure to respond to the interpellation submitted by Kuldar Leis.
Taristuminister Kuldar Leis
AI Summary
Infrastructure Minister Kuldar Leis stated that the violations and deficiencies in risk management observed at the Uikala landfill undermine the credibility of waste management. The solution proposed is a waste reform that will increase transparency and competition, separate transport and treatment procurements, digitalize data, ensure fire safety in cooperation with the Environmental Board and the Rescue Board, and, if necessary, find a new administrator to guarantee sustainable waste management and the capacity and accountability of local municipalities.
Taristuminister Kuldar Leis
AI Summary
Infrastructure Minister Kuldar Leis responded to an inquiry regarding the repeated violations and fire safety problems at the Uikala landfill, admitting that the situation undermines the sector's credibility and distorts competition. Nevertheless, he confirmed that the Environmental Board is intensively monitoring the situation, has imposed operational restrictions, and has developed contingency plans should the operator's activities be interrupted. He emphasized that the systemic solution is the waste reform currently under deliberation in the Riigikogu, which will increase transparency, separate transport tenders from handling tenders, and provide the state and local governments with superior tools for supervision and risk management.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller announced that the audience still had a few questions and asked Vladimir Arhipov to respond.
Vladimir Arhipov
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Vladimir Arhipov emphasized that local municipalities have too little power when it comes to regulating the activities of landfills (such as Jõelähtme and Uikala), even though these facilities have been severely bothering local residents for years. He then asked the minister whether the role and right of intervention for local governments in solving such environmental issues should be increased, given that the Environmental Board is currently the sole decision-maker.
Vladimir Arhipov
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Vladimir Arhipov emphasizes that local municipalities have very limited power when it comes to regulation. He cites the examples of the Uikala and Tallinn landfills in the Jõelähtme area, where local residents are being terrorized, and calls for an increase in the role of local authorities (KOVs) so that they have the right and the opportunity to intervene in such landfills.
Taristuminister Kuldar Leis
AI Summary
Implementing the waste management reform will increase competition among transporters and processors. Local authorities will gain greater capacity to run separate tenders, and the proportion of separately collected waste will increase. This means that significantly less mixed municipal waste will end up in landfills in the future.
Taristuminister Kuldar Leis
AI Summary
Infrastructure Minister Kuldar Leis believes that the waste reform will significantly improve the situation by introducing greater competition to the market through the separation of carriers and processors. This move will reduce risks and grant local municipalities greater authority in organizing tenders, ultimately leading to an increase in source separation and a substantial reduction in the volume of mixed municipal waste sent to landfills.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller invites Peeter Ernits to the stage.
Peeter Ernits
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Peeter Ernits criticizes the plan to rent Tartu prison to Swedish criminals in order to earn 30 million, and questions how large the final sum spent by us would be and who will ultimately pay for it, pointing out that the operator is in debt.
Peeter Ernits
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Peeter Ernits draws attention to the contradiction between government revenues (renting the Tartu prison to Sweden) and expected costs, asking the minister directly how large the bill for liquidating the Uikala sludge mounds will be for taxpayers, considering the operator's severe debt situation.
Taristuminister Kuldar Leis
AI Summary
Infrastructure Minister Kuldar Leis confirms that although the Uikala landfill, while under Ekovir’s management, has been in a difficult state, the past few months have shown a clearly positive trend. With the assistance of the Environmental Board, disposal areas are being closed according to plan with the goal of normalizing the situation by the end of the year. He stresses, however, that in the event of the "black scenario"—the termination of the company’s operations—the landowner, Toila municipality, would have to take over the landfill, and the state would need to step in to help them, adding that the 2.1 million euro tax debt has been deferred.
Taristuminister Kuldar Leis
AI Summary
Infrastructure Minister Kuldar Leis said that although Ekovir in Uikala is currently in a difficult position, a positive trend has emerged in recent months, the third deposition area could be closed by the end of the year, and the state can provide aid to local municipalities if the company closes down, and the tax debt of 2.1 million has been rescheduled.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Peeter Ernits raised a procedural question with the chairman of the session.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller and Peeter Ernits addressed the presiding officer to raise a procedural question.
Peeter Ernits
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Peeter Ernits apologized for having temporarily struggled to follow the discussion, and strongly urged the minister to clarify who exactly he was referring to when he said that someone would be locked up.
Peeter Ernits
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Peeter Ernits apologizes and says that the Minister stated someone was going to be locked up, and then asks who that person is.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller clarified that the previous question was substantive and directed at the Minister of Infrastructure, not procedural, and subsequently called the next speaker, Lauri Laats, to the podium.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Arvo Aller said that it was not a procedural question, but the question was directed to the Minister of Infrastructure, and next time they will attempt the procedural process. Lauri Laats, please!
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats expresses concern over the legality of postponing taxes, highlights a debt of 2.1 million and a lack of funds, notes the need for financing intended for the remediation of landfills, and criticizes the state's lack of a crisis plan and the burdening of responsibility onto local governments, such as the Toila municipality.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats expresses deep concern regarding the company’s financial standing, finding the large deferred tax debt (2.1 million) contradictory to the simultaneous availability of funds for landfill remediation. He also criticizes the state for lacking a worst-case scenario crisis plan, which would mean that the entire responsibility, without assistance, would fall onto the shoulders of the local government, the Toila municipality.
Taristuminister Kuldar Leis
AI Summary
He stated that the Toila municipality, as the landowner, is the primary party responsible for matters concerning the landfill, but the state, along with the Environmental Board and the Ministry of Climate, is prepared to assist if necessary, and dedicated funds are available for closing landfills and preventing urgent environmental damage.
Taristuminister Kuldar Leis
AI Summary
Infrastructure Minister Kuldar Leis stressed that, besides tax debt, landfill operators must maintain a separate reserve to cover closure costs. He confirmed that while the Toila municipality, as the landowner, would be responsible in the event of a worst-case scenario, the state remains in constant contact with the municipality and will step in if needed, utilizing emergency funds from the Environmental Investments Centre to prevent environmental damage. He emphasized that the state already has a solution plan prepared.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Arvo Aller gives thanks, announces the close of the question period, opens the floor for debate, and invites the interpellators to take the floor, including Vladimir Arhipov.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Arvo Aller closed the questioning period, opened the debate, and since none of the interpellators wished to take the floor, he invited the next registered speaker, Vladimir Arhipov, to the rostrum.
Vladimir Arhipov
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Vladimir Arhipov is raising a critical issue regarding the recurring fires at the Uikala landfill and the operator's tax debt exceeding 2.3 million euros. He stresses that this represents a systemic problem affecting the reliability of waste management across Estonia and the quality of life, endangering public health and the safety of rescue workers (while also referencing the odor problem in Maardu/Jõelähtme). Consequently, the government is being called upon to implement a rapid action plan, establish financial guarantees to cover environmental damages, and reform the system to prevent companies that disregard laws and taxes from participating in public procurements.
Vladimir Arhipov
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Vladimir Arhipov emphasizes that the issue of the Uikala landfill and the broader problem of waste management are systemic, posing a threat to public health and quality of life. He calls on the state to present a clear action plan, consider providing financial guarantees for the compensation of environmental damage, and reform the system. This reform must ensure that companies failing to comply with the law or neglecting payments cannot successfully participate in state procurements, thereby guaranteeing clean air and a safe living environment for everyone in Estonia.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller thanked [the participants], stated that the Minister did not wish to add anything further, closed the debate, and announced that the seventh item on the agenda had been addressed.