Estonia drops reusable tableware mandate from packaging bill

Estonia’s Climate Ministry has removed a proposed reusable tableware requirement from a new version of the country’s packaging bill, ERR reports. The draft also proposes scrapping the packaging excise tax and reducing companies’ auditing requirements.

Infrastructure Minister Kuldar Leis said the earlier proposal had drawn substantial feedback. It would have required fast-food restaurants, cinemas and other eateries to serve food and drinks consumed on their premises only in reusable dishes.

“Feedback from businesses showed there is not yet enough readiness to expand reuse solutions,” Leis said. He added that further analysis is needed to develop a sufficiently large, year-round market for reuse services and make them efficient and affordable.

The revised bill would also end the packaging excise tax, which was introduced nearly 30 years ago to encourage companies to collect and recycle packaging waste. Leis said businesses would remain responsible for their packaging, while the waste reform would improve separate collection and provide clearer information about what happens to collected waste.

The bill would clarify producer responsibility for single-use plastic products, including reimbursement of the costs of cleaning litter from public spaces. It would also prohibit non-refundable handling or service fees on reusable deposit dishes. Customers who return a reusable dish after paying a deposit must receive the full amount back, Leis said.

The proposed changes would align Estonian law with the European Union’s packaging and packaging waste regulation. From 2030, packaging placed on the EU market must be more recyclable and contain no excessive empty space. The regulation also limits pre-packaging very small quantities of fresh fruit and vegetables, with exceptions where necessary, expands opportunities to use reusable packaging and restricts PFAS chemicals in food packaging.