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The report examines the environmental platforms of seven political parties and one electoral alliance for the 2021 Estonian local elections. It finds a significant increase in the volume and specificity of environmental promises compared to 2017, with a shift in focus toward climate, energy, and mobility. In Tallinn, mobility dominated the discourse, while Tartu platforms emphasized nature and parks. The analysis highlights that Eestimaa Rohelised (Greens) provided the most comprehensive environmental programs across all levels, while EKRE's platforms were the most modest and occasionally opposed the 'green transition'. The document also assesses the alignment of these promises with the UN SDGs and the criteria for Tallinn's bid as a European Green Capital.

The study finds that the composition of mixed municipal waste in Estonia has remained largely stable over the last decade, with biodegradable and packaging waste each making up approximately 32% of the total. While the share of plastic and bio-waste has slightly decreased, there is a significant increase in paper and cardboard packaging, reflecting a decline in the use of traditional waste paper like newspapers. Separately collected packaging containers suffer from high contamination rates (28% on average), particularly in rural areas. WEEE collected at civic amenity sites is dominated by large appliances, heat exchangers, and screens, which account for 89% of the total weight.

The report investigates the feasibility of producing biomethane from waste in Lääne-Viru County, Estonia. It identifies a total biomethane production potential of up to 24.4 million m3/a by 2020, with energy crops as the largest resource. The study proposes a pilot plant in Rakvere using wet digestion technology and amine scrubbing for purification. While combined heat and power (CHP) is more profitable for a private operator due to feed-in tariffs, the report concludes that using biomethane as motor fuel provides higher social and environmental benefits for society as a whole.

The document outlines strategies for urban biodiversity, focusing on nature-friendly gardening, landscaping, and construction. It provides detailed guidance on creating habitats for insects, birds, amphibians, and mammals, while addressing conflicts with 'problem' species and the impact of urban infrastructure on wildlife.

The W-Fuel project investigated the feasibility of producing biomethane from locally sourced biodegradable waste, sludge, manure, and energy crops in northern Estonia. The study focused on two pilot sites: the Hinnu pig farm in Harju County and a proposed plant in Rakvere, Lääne-Viru County. Findings indicate that while CHP production may be more commercially profitable due to existing feed-in tariffs, upgrading biogas to biomethane for transport fuel is more socially and environmentally beneficial, particularly when accounting for the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU-ETS). The report also provides detailed biomass availability forecasts for 2020 and recommends specific waste prevention measures and governmental support schemes to facilitate the transition to gaseous renewable fuels.