New Waste Bins Installed in Tallinn; Authorities Satisfied but Problem Areas Remain
Tallinn has installed around 100 new waste bins over the past year after removing advertising bins, but residents still report shortages in beaches, Old Town, and for dog waste.
Almost two years ago, advertising waste bins attached to poles disappeared from Tallinn's streets. Over the past year, the city has gradually replaced them with new ones, though in significantly smaller numbers.
Former Nõmme district elder and current opposition Tallinn city council member Karmo Kuri acknowledges improvements but notes ongoing placement issues. "In Tallinn, there are three main problems with bins, mostly seasonal. Beaches are a big issue. In the Old Town and its surroundings, more bins would be useful since there are many tourists in summer. There's also a lack of bins for dog owners," Kuri listed.
However, Vice Mayor Kristjan Järvan (Isamaa) says the situation is now under control. While the disappearance of bins initially caused chaos, resident requests for additional bins have been heard. "Today the situation has clearly improved: all bus stops are equipped with waste bins, and they are also installed in the busiest areas. The problem of someone wanting to dispose of waste but finding no bin for hundreds of meters no longer exists in Tallinn," Järvan stated.
Over the past year, the city has installed about 100 new bins. Architect Siim Tanel Tõnisson believes the reduced number of bins improves the cityscape. "The old bins weren't bad, but there were too many. In urban environments, we need to be careful not to have too much visual noise that distracts from what we actually want to see in the city – other people, traffic, or the urban environment itself," Tõnisson noted.
Additionally, Tallinn has introduced bins for electronic cigarettes, designed so that nothing can be removed from them.
