Environmentally Friendly Small Island
In Vormsi Parish, waste management is organized year-round through a unified system of waste collection houses located in villages and a waste station located in Hullo. This system is regulated by the waste management regulations established by the municipal council. Waste management as a whole includes both organized waste transport and services provided by the Vormsi Municipal Government through the waste station and the Rumpo landfill site. The territory of the municipality forms a single organized waste transport area, where participation in the system is mandatory for all waste holders. Waste collection in Vormsi Parish is carried out through the village-based waste houses.
Separate waste collection is mandatory for everyone – at home, in educational institutions, and at the workplace. Waste separation is also required at public events. Waste that is not sorted is more difficult and significantly more expensive to recycle. The main goal of sorting and separate collection is to return as much waste and garbage as possible into circulation – for example, to reuse a glass bottle or to make a new plastic bottle from a plastic package. Aluminum drink cans can be recycled almost indefinitely, reducing the need for ore mining. The majority of recyclable waste can be divided into three main groups:
1. Packaging Waste, which is further divided into:
a) Plastic, metal, beverage cartons
b) Clean glass packaging
c) Cardboard
Packaging includes items like bread bags, cereal boxes, and cream containers. Packaging does not need to be washed but must be clean enough not to contaminate other waste.
2. Biowaste – food scraps, potato peels, garden waste, and tree leaves
Biowaste must be composted and must not be mixed with other types of waste, as it contaminates all other waste groups.
3. Mixed Municipal Waste – this group should be the smallest in volume, containing only items that do not fall into any other category. Examples include broken dishes, old pens, large bones that do not decompose, diapers, and packaging that cannot be cleaned.
Important: Medications must not be disposed of in mixed municipal waste.
Unused or expired medications are classified as hazardous waste. These must be taken to a hazardous waste collection point. Pharmacies also accept unused medications. Medications must never be flushed down the toilet, as this pollutes water and can kill aquatic organisms. Eventually, the substances in the medications may end up in our drinking water.
In addition to the three main groups mentioned above, there are other types of waste that are not produced daily but can be sorted separately and taken to the waste station:
- Hazardous Waste: Paints, varnishes, oils, medications, pesticides, etc.
(Collection containers for batteries and fluorescent tubes are also found in public places, usually in stores.) - Bulky Waste: Furniture and mattresses.
- Construction Waste: Polystyrene, treated wood, sheet glass, etc.
- Electronic Waste: Refrigerators, microwave ovens, computers, air conditioners, etc.
Hullo Waste Station Opening Hours:
- Monday: 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
- Thursday: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
- Saturday: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Biowaste: Food Waste and Garden Waste
- Food Waste: Includes kitchen waste such as potato and eggshells, tea and coffee grounds, as well as leftover or spoiled food, including small bones.
- Garden Waste: Includes mowed grass, leaves, pulled weeds, cut flowers, hedge trimmings.
You may also collect other biodegradable waste with biowaste, such as napkins, household paper, and soiled cardboard and paper (without tape).
Important: Biowaste must not be dumped in the forest. This promotes the spread of pests and invasive species, and can disrupt the existing balance of animal and plant species in the area.
Invasive Species – such as the Spanish slug and the black-headed slug – can survive the winter in forest soil and multiply uncontrollably, returning to your garden to feast.
When composting in a home garden, it is easier to monitor pests and control their spread. Additionally, invasive plant species such as Japanese knotweed, Himalayan balsam, Canadian goldenrod, or fast-growing annuals like scentless mayweed and red sorrel can spread unchecked through seeds or root fragments dumped in the forest. Some of these species have already naturalized in Western Estonia and the islands.
Keep in mind: removing plant waste from your garden means removing nutrients – future fertilizer – that you could return to your ornamental plants or vegetables by composting.
Learn more about composting: HERE
Responsibilities of Public Event Organizers
At public events where food and drink are served, only reusable dishes and utensils may be used.
This means that all disposable dishes – including those made of plastic, biodegradable plastic, or other materials – such as cups, plates, forks, and knives – are prohibited.
Organizers must also provide waste sorting stations with bins for collecting waste separately.
Note: This requirement applies to all public events, regardless of whether a permit from the local government is required.
Additional Information:
Ebekai Härm
Economic and Administrative Specialist
Phone: +372 5693 0041
