Report an environmental breach or pollution to the state helpline at 1247
If you discover environmental pollution or a potential threat to the environment, assess the situation – can you eliminate it a manner that is safe for both yourself and the environment? For example, you can pick up an empty bottle or a discarded ice cream wrapping and take it to the nearest trash bin, but in case of more extensive environmental pollution or a threat thereof, you must report the situation by calling the state helpline at 1247. If you call, give as accurate a description of the environmental hazard as possible and, if necessary, wait for the inspector. Read more about reporting an environmental hazard on the website of the Environmental Board.
You can also inform the respective local government about a maintenance problem on local government land, as well as use the ‘Anna teada’ (Let us know) app.
According to the Waste Act, on state-owned land, the Environmental Board is responsible for the organisation of the elimination of pollution.
Marine pollution
If you notice marine pollution, you can notify the Police and Border Guard Board directly by calling 112. The responsibilities of the Police and Border Guard Board include maritime surveillance (especially in terms of safety and border control), monitoring marine pollution, and the localisation and elimination of pollution at sea.
If pollution occurs or is detected in the port basin, the harbour master must be notified – the ports must have their own pollution control plan and corresponding capacity.
Residual pollution
Residual pollution means a polluted land or aquatic (surface or groundwater) area created as a result of past human activity, or hazardous substances left unused in the environment, which endanger the health and wildlife of the surrounding population.
Eliminating residual pollution is the responsibility of the Ministry of the Environment, the Environmental Board, and with the financing of the Environmental Investment Centre, local governments as well.
Companies posing a threat
The Chemicals Act defines dangerous enterprises or enterprises with a major hazard, i.e. companies that handle different quantities of hazardous chemicals. Information on dangerous enterprises or enterprises with a major hazard can be found in the Land Board’s map application.
If the handling of a chemical results in environmental pollution or an accident, the owner of a dangerous enterprise or enterprise with a major hazard must immediately notify the Emergency Response Centre by calling 1524. The Emergency Response Centre will forward information to the Environmental Board in the event of an environmental disturbance, or to the Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority in the event of an accident in a dangerous enterprise or enterprise with a major hazard.
Last modified: 19.03.2024