The Estonian competition authority, known as Konkurentsiamet, has announced the start of a short analysis aimed at assessing the competition dynamics within the packaging waste collection and recycling system. This analysis will focus on the roles of various stakeholders, including waste producers, local governments, packaging companies, recycling organizations, and waste handlers.

According to Kristin Truusi, a lawyer in the administrative department of the competition authority, there are currently three deposit-free packaging recycling organizations (TKOs) operating in Estonia. However, no new TKOs have entered the market in the last decade. This stagnation raises concerns about the functioning of competition and potential barriers to market entry.

In addition to this analysis, a waste reform is currently underway under the leadership of the Ministry of Climate, which also involves amendments to the packaging law and a reorganization of the existing packaging collection system. The findings from the competition analysis are expected to highlight potential competition issues in the sector and contribute to the design of an effective packaging waste collection system that ensures fair competition in the market.

Under the principle of extended producer responsibility, packaging producers are responsible for the collection and handling of packaging and packaging waste. They can delegate these responsibilities to a licensed recycling organization, which manages the collection, transport, and recycling of the packaging waste on behalf of the producer. TKOs collaborate with local governments to manage public collection networks and, by agreement with local authorities, also collect packaging waste directly from its source.

One of the goals of the competition authority for 2025 is to investigate the competitive situation regarding deposit-free packaging and packaging waste collection and recycling in Estonia. The final report of this analysis is expected to be completed by the second quarter of 2025.

The Estonian competition authority oversees competition in various sectors, including electricity, natural gas, district heating, postal services, water supply and sewage, railways, aviation, and ports, while also preventing unfair trading practices in the agricultural and food supply chain. The authority operates under the Ministry of Justice and Digital Affairs.