Prügila

Prügila is a term used in Estonian to refer to a landfill or dump site. It is a place where waste is disposed of, typically by burying it underground. Prügila can vary in size and management practices, from informal dumps to officially regulated facilities designed to minimize environmental impact.

The management of prügila is an important aspect of waste management in Estonia. Modern landfills are equipped with liners and leachate collection systems to prevent contamination of soil and groundwater. They also often incorporate systems for capturing methane gas, which can be used as an energy source. Historically, however, many prügila sites were unregulated, leading to significant environmental pollution.

The Estonian environmental regulations aim to phase out old, poorly managed landfills and promote the development of state-of-the-art waste disposal facilities. Efforts are also made to reduce the amount of waste sent to prügila through recycling, composting, and waste-to-energy initiatives. The term prügila thus encompasses both the physical site of waste disposal and the broader context of its environmental and regulatory management within Estonia.