What is Waste WEISTE

Local Teams of Experts

Visits and studies

Publications, reports

Publicity

Evaluation

Waste W.E.I.S.T.E. (Waste in the Western Estonian Islands - Sustainable Treatment Efforts) is a project involving three Baltic islands: Gotland (Sweden), Hiiumaa and Saaremaa (both Estonia). The aim of the project is to promote and introduce sustainable solutions for the treatment of waste water and solid waste in CEE islands, by means of co-operative links and transfer of know-how from the EU island region.

Gotland is an eco-municipality and has extensive experience working with island-related waste problems concerning water as well as solid waste. Some methods developed and used on Gotland for the treatment of waste water in bioponds are good examples of waste-free technology. Gotland has also implemented a modern management scheme for solid waste and thus been able to reduce the amounts substantially by a high degree of recycling and composting.

The project aims at making feasibility studies for larger projects in the field of waste management on both Hiiumaa and Saaremaa.

The project has a total budget of 93 250 ECU and is supported by the European Commission Ecos-Ouverture and Phare programmes (Baltic Small Project Facility). The Phare co-financing is 80%. The Lead Authority is Hiiumaa County Government.

Local teams of experts have been set up in both Estonian islands. The leader for Hiiumaa team is Mr. Ruuben Post from Hiiumaa Biosphere Reserve Centre and the leader for Saaremaa team is Mr.Erik Keerberg from Foundation Saaremaa University Centre.
The project leader on Gotland is Folke Ansen from Technical department of the Gotlands Kommun.

Visits and studies

As a result of Gotland experts' visits to Hiiumaa and Saaremaa on 30th November - 6th December 1996, a draft study of the waste water management and solid waste management on both Estonian islands was elaborated.

One of the central events was a study visit of Hiiumaa and Saaremaa experts to Gotland on 15th - 18th September 1997. The representatives of the eastern project partners benefited from Gotland's experiences in waste water and solid waste management. The study visit with numerous presentations, discussions and site visits was very informative and instructive. It has proved to be useful and inspiring for the continued project work.

The participants of the study visit from Hiiumaa and Saaremaa with the hosts from Gatukontoret of Gotland municipality in Visby, September 1997

Publications, reports

The following three manuals have been translated from Swedish into Estonian and published:

• Waste Management Plan in Gotland's Kommun

• Cleaning of waste water in bioponds

• Irrigation with waste water according to Gotland model

Draft versions of Waste Management Plans have been produced on both Estonian islands with assistance from Gotland Kommun. These documents outline the most urgent priorities and set out a number of actions as follow-up of the project.

Publicity

Aside from numerous articles in local newspapers Hiiumaa Biosphere Reserve Centre has published a special issue of its newspaper "Kaitseala Teataja", dedicated to the results of the project (in Estonian). You are welcome to read it!  

Evaluation

(summary based on opionions of the partners)

Hiiumaa

• A network with the participating regions has been created. A local team has been established to develop the waste management system on the whole island based on the experience gained from the international cooperation.

• Gotland example has shown how political decisions and other factors influence the organisation of waste management. This makes it possible to build up a more efficient system of decision-making in the future. It is not reasonable to expect that inadequate political decisions can be compensated by the work of specialists.

• We have realised the need to pay more attention to educating and motivating the public and to do so on a regular basis. Here we can learn from the Gotland experience.

Saaremaa

• The study visits and seminars have increased the awareness and knowledge of how to manage solid waste and waste water in island conditions in a contemporary, sustainable way and how those objectives can be achieved.

• Gotland's experience from treating waste water from land fills seems to be very useful.

• The project has given the county administration new impulses and ideas for developing management of waste water and solid waste.

Gotland

• The project has widened our views and spurred continued cross-border cooperation in favour of a better environment around the Baltic Sea. It has also placed our environmental commitment into a wider context.

• An improved coordination would benefit the Estonian islands and the exchange of know-how and experiences between professionals and decision-makers involved. The project has given us valuable contacts on the Estonian islands, contacts that will make future cooperation easier.