Increasing the Recycling Rate of Ship Waste in the Port of Tallinn

The report provides a detailed overview of current waste management practices on the busy Tallinn–Helsinki passenger route and identifies several opportunities for advancing circular waste management in maritime transport.

The aim of the Tallinn pilot in Circular Ports is to improve how passenger ship waste is managed and recycled on board
ships and after it is delivered to port reception facilities. The overall objective is to increase the recycling rate of waste from ships and to support more circular waste management practices in maritime transport.

This preparatory study for the pilot specifically aims to:

• Analyse how waste is generated, sorted and delivered from passenger ships to port reception facilities
• Map current collection and recycling practices onboard vessels and in passenger terminals
• Examine key municipal solid waste streams, including packaging, food waste, glass, metals and plastics
• Identify barriers and opportunities for improving source separation and recycling rates

The report combines waste flow analysis, operational data and stakeholder input to better understand how waste management currently functions across the FIN–EST Green Corridor. While recycling practices already exist, the findings indicate there is still significant potential to improve source separation, coordination and material recovery between ships, terminals and waste management operators.

One of the report’s central findings is the importance of cooperation across the entire waste management chain. Increasing recycling rates in maritime transport requires not only technical solutions, but also closer collaboration between ports, shipping companies, terminal operators and waste management actors. The study provides an analytical basis for developing coordinated measures that support more circular practices in port environments.

Read the Report

The full pilot status report is available here: Pilot report: Increasing the recycling rate of ship waste – Tallinn

Programme Manual Online

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