Circular material use rate

The use of recycled material substantially increased between 2010 and 2023. In 2023, recycled material accounted for 18.1% of material used by the economy. The key materials in circulation were wood, paper, plastic, metal and mining waste. The volumes of waste imported and exported for recycling purposes have been relatively stable and the quantities are small compared with the volumes of waste recycled domestically. Most of the recycled waste consists of oil shale ash, which is used, for example, to produce gravel for large construction projects. The circular material use rate was highest in 2012, when domestic material consumption was lower, but waste recycling was at a similar level.

Increasing safe material circulation is a strategic goal for Estonia, which aims to achieve the ambitious target of using 30% of recycled material by 2035 and to transition from a linear economic model to a circular economy by 2050. The transition to a circular economy will reduce pressure on natural resources, dependence on foreign raw materials and the risks for businesses in export markets.