Waste management

In Tartu waste must collected separately by type:

Waste stations are located at Selli 19 (prev. Turu 49) (phone: 738 6700 (Mon–Fri 9-17) and 524 1544 (operator answers if possible)) and Jaama 72c (phone: 738 6700 (Mon–Fri 9-17) and 527 8960 (operator answers if possible)). Opening hours: Mon–Fri 10–18 and Sat–Sun 10–16, closed on public holidays.

Packaging (glass, plastic and metal packaging, clean cardboard milk, juice, etc., packaging as well as paper packaging) must be taken to public glass or packaging recycling bins or to waste stations. Owners of private houses may order a packaging bag service free of charge from the www.tvo.ee web address or by calling 681 1480.

Paper and cardboard

Houses with at least five apartments must have paper and cardboard recycling bins next to the building. Inhabitants of private houses and houses with fewer than five apartments can take waste paper to OÜ Eesti Vanapaber (Jalaka 60b, phone: 733 3705), which is a company that buys up paper, to waste stations or to public waste paper recycling bins.

Hazardous waste

Hazardous waste (car and other batteries, leftover paint, medicinal products, daylight lamps, etc.) can be handed over free of charge in waste stations of Tartu. Old medicinal products can also be handed over in every pharmacy. Hazardous waste is accepted for a charge in AS Epler&Lorenz (Ravila 75a, phone: 742 1398, 523 8615, www.epler-lorenz.ee).

Biodegradable waste

Greenery waste (branches, leaves) is not conventional waste. It must be taken to Aardlapalu transfer station or a waste station, or waste transport must be ordered from a company that provides such a service. Kitchen waste must also be collected separately and containers meant for this end must be located next to each apartment building with at least ten apartments. No separate container for biowaste may be placed next to private houses. Kitchen waste may be composted on the spot only in special composters. Only garden and greenery waste, and not kitchen waste, may be composted in an open window.

Electronic waste can be handed over free of charge in waste stations.

Construction waste, such as toilet bowls, sinks, washbasins, sheet glass, window frames, debris, etc. can be taken to a waste station for a charge. Stones and dredging spoil can be handed over for a charge at the soil fill location (OÜ Karimek, phone: 506 5373) at Turu St 48.

Old tyres can be taken free of charge to the waste station at Jaama 72c, to the service point of AS Kuusakoski or to a company that sells tyres. Tyres are accepted for a charge in AS Epler&Lorenz.

Items, except for clothes, no longer needed in a domestic household, such as furniture, electric and gas cookers, washing and sewing machines, dishes, hobby items, books, toys, etc. can be given away in the re-use centre at Jaamamõisa 30 (phone: 553 6111, Tue–Fri 11–18, Sat 10–15) and in the recycling centre at Puiestee 114 (phone: 748 7003, 5388 7121, Mon–Fri 10-18, Sat 10–15).

The New Use Centre (Riia 11, phone: 5553 0288, Mon–Fri 10–18, Sat 10–16) accepts, in addition to household items, second-hand clothes.

In Tartu, scrap metal is bought up by several undertakings, the largest of them being AS Kuusakoski (Teguri 53, phone: 736 7772, www.kuusakoski.ee). You may yourself take an end-of-life vehicle to the service point or order its transport by calling 13 660.

Waste management is organised by the Environmental Service of Tartu City Government (Raekoja plats 3, phone: 736 1273, 736 1328). You must submit an application for the suspension of organised waste transport here if nobody lives in your house on a temporary basis.