The Chamber of Chimney Sweeps has turned to the Ministry of Climate, as specialists could not figure out where the ministry prescribes them to dispose of ash from heating appliances, writes Postimees.
“We, the chimney sweeps, have encountered a problem with the disposal of ash and soot that accumulates during the cleaning of heating systems. From various sources, we have learned that soot and ash should be thrown into the mixed household waste container at the client's location; however, rumors have circulated that they should be placed in the bio-waste container or even in the construction waste container. We request a clear explanation of where we can dispose of soot and ash,” the appeal to the ministry states.
Kadri Laube, communications advisor at the Ministry of Climate, explained how to proceed: “Cool ash should be thrown into the mixed household waste container. Ash may contain hazardous substances and disrupt the bio-waste recycling process.”
Laube added that the Ministry of Climate has just completed work on a state guide for the separate collection of household waste. “In case of doubts, one can always check there how to properly dispose of waste,” Laube said.
This guide also clarifies the issue of where to throw egg shells — let us recall that in 2024, AS Keskkonnateenused and the Ministry of Climate debated this topic. While the former company claimed that shells are not bio-waste, the ministry insisted otherwise. Now, the state guide indicates that egg shells are bio-waste and should be thrown into the appropriate container.
The problem with many types of waste is that they can fall into different categories. For example, old clothes, that is, textile waste, should be collected separately. But if this clothing is stained with paint or oil, wet, moldy, or eaten by moths, it must be thrown into the mixed household waste container. It turns out that underwear and socks can also originally only be thrown into the mixed waste container.
Paper and cardboard remain paper and cardboard, except when they are heavily soiled, soaked, or are single-use dishes — in the latter case, they turn into plastic and metal waste and are sent to another container.
