Report of the Circwaste project coordinated by the Finnish Environment Institute
Municipal waste management in Finland Sari Piippo
Report of the Circwaste project coordinated by the Finnish Environment Institute
Municipal waste management in Finland Sari Piippo
Author: Sari Piippo, Finnish Environment Institute (Syke) Funder: EU LIFE IP programme Publisher: Finnish Environment Institute (Syke) Latokartanonkaari 11, 00790 Helsinki, Finland, Phone +358 295 251 000, syke.fi Pictures and other contents of the publication can be quoted by referring to the original source: Piippo, S. Municipal waste management in Finland. Report of the Circwaste project coordinated by the Finnish Environment Institute. 2023.
The publication is available in the internet (pdf): Circwaste.fi/en > Current > Publications and Syke-hankkeiden julkaisuja (helsinki.fi) ISBN 978-952-11-5539-0 (online)
Year of issue: 2023
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Municipal waste management in Finland
Abstract Municipal waste management in Finland In 2021, the total amount of municipal waste generated in Finland was nearly 3.5 million tonnes. About 629 kg of municipal waste was generated per capita. In 2021, the most significant form of municipal waste treatment was the energy recovery of waste, being over 60%. The share of material recovery of municipal waste was 39 per cent and that of landfill disposal only around 0.4 per cent. Around 1.6 million tonnes of separately collected waste were generated. Of the separately collected material types, the largest have most commonly been paper and cardboard and biowaste. Mixed waste collected from households usually consists mainly of biowaste, plastic, paper, and cardboard waste. About 1/3 of mixed waste is biowaste and many other waste fractions would also be recyclable in principle. On average, actual miscellaneous waste accounts for only 18% of the total amount of mixed waste. The aim of Finnish waste policy is to promote the sustainable use of natural resources while ensuring that waste does not cause harm to the environment or health. Finland's waste policy is based on the European Union's waste policy. According to the Waste Act, the primary responsibility for organising waste management lies with the holder of the waste, such as a private person, the occupant of a property or a company, but municipalities and manufacturers and importers of certain products are also responsible for organising waste management. For waste management the best economically feasible techniques and the best possible method of combating harm to health and the environment must be used. Finnish waste legislation is largely based on EU legislation, but in some cases it is stricter. Finnish waste legislation covers all waste with the exception of certain special wastes. The wide-ranging reform entered into force through the Waste Act on July 19, 2021. The reform will promote recycling and the circular economy: In 2025, 55 per cent of municipal waste will be recycled in Finland and as much as 65 per cent in 2035. In the future, municipalities will organise the transport of separately collected biowaste and packaging waste generated in housing from properties after the transition period. Producers pay compensation to municipalities for collection. In addition, packaging producers remain obliged to maintain regional reception points for packaging waste. The separate collection obligations regulated by the new Waste decree were tightened. The new government regulations regulate which waste fractions are collected from properties, but municipalities may tighten or loosen the separate collection requirements in their waste management regulations. Municipal waste management is organised in cooperation by municipalities, companies and producer responsibility organisations. Municipalities are obliged to organise the management of waste generated in housing and municipal waste generated in municipal administrative and service activities. The municipality must also arrange, among other things, the reception and treatment of hazardous waste generated in housing. Municipalities have mainly delegated most of their practical waste management tasks to regional waste management companies. Municipal waste management usually excludes waste generated in business activities. As a rule, shops, private service activities, companies, and industrial and production plants are responsible for their own waste management and procure the services themselves from suitable service providers. However, the municipality is responsible for waste from socalled brick-and-mortar companies. According to the Waste Act, manufacturers and importers of certain products are obliged to organise the waste management of products at their own expense when the products are taken out of use. These products covered by so-called producer responsibility include electrical and electronic equipment, batteries, accumulators, vehicles, tyres, paper and all packaging. A company can take care of producer responsibility: 1) By becoming a member of a producer organisation, in which case the producer responsibility is transferred to the producer organisation, which takes care of the producer responsibility obligations. 2) By submitting an application for a producer
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register to the Pirkanmaa Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment and arranging the collection, recycling and other waste management of products at their own expense. 3. By setting up a producer organisation together with other producers. The fees of waste management of properties consist of the costs of the types of waste to be collected (costs of purchasing a collection container, emptying fees, washing), as well as a separate basic fee in some areas. Waste management per capita is cheapest in a block of flats, even though the number of types of waste collected is the largest. The price is probably partly explained by the larger number of residents per collection point of the property and the collection efficiency. Calculated per capita, waste management is most expensive in a detached house where there is no composting of biowaste on the property. If biowaste is composted on an property, it reduces the costs of waste management to close to the level of an apartment building resident per inhabitant. Keywords: municipal waste, waste management, separate collection, producer responsibility, waste legislation
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Municipal waste management in Finland
Tiivistelmä Suomen yhdyskuntajätehuolto Vuonna 2021 Suomessa tuotetun yhdyskuntajätteiden kokonaismäärä oli lähes 3,5 miljoonaa tonnia. Yhdyskuntajätettä muodostui asukasta kohti noin 629 kiloa. Vuonna 2021 merkittävin yhdyskuntajätteen käsittelymuoto oli jätteiden energiahyödyntäminen, yli 60 %. Yhdyskuntajätteiden materiaalihyödyntämisen osuus oli 39 prosenttia, ja kaatopaikkasijoituksen enää noin 0,4 prosenttia. Erilliskerättyjä jätteitä tuotettiin noin 1,6 miljoonaa tonnia. Erilliskerätyistä materiaalieristä suurimmat ovat yleisimmin olleet paperi ja kartonki sekä biojäte. Kotitalouksista kerätty sekajäte koostuu yleensä pääasiassa biojätteestä, muovista, paperista sekä kartonki- ja pahvijätteestä. Noin kolmasosa sekajätteestä on biojätettä ja myös monet muut jätejakeet olisivat periaatteessa kierrätettäviä. Varsinaiset sekalaiset jätteet muodostavat keskimäärin vain 18 prosenttia sekajätteen kokonaismäärästä. Suomalaisen jätepolitiikan tavoitteena on luonnonvarojen kestävän käytön edistäminen ja samalla varmistaa, ettei jäte aiheuta haittaa ympäristölle tai terveydelle. Suomen jätepolitiikka perustuu Euroopan unionin jätepolitiikkaan. Jätelain mukaan jätehuollon järjestämisestä vastaa ensisijaisesti jätteen haltija, kuten esimerkiksi yksityinen henkilö, kiinteistön haltija tai yritys, mutta pääsäännöstä poiketen myös kunnilla sekä tiettyjen tuotteiden valmistajilla ja maahantuojilla on osaltaan vastuu jätehuollon järjestämisestä. Jätehuollossa tulee käyttää parasta taloudellisesti käyttökelpoista tekniikkaa, ja mahdollisimman hyvää terveys- ja ympäristöhaitan torjuntamenetelmää. Suomen jätelainsäädäntö perustuu pitkälti EU:n lainsäädäntöön, mutta joissakin tapauksissa se on tiukempi. Suomen jätelainsäädäntö kattaa kaikki jätteet tiettyjä erityisjätteitä lukuun ottamatta. Laajaalainen uudistus tuli voimaan jätelailla 19.7.2021. Uudistuksella edistetään kierrätystä ja kiertotaloutta: Vuonna 2025 Suomessa yhdyskuntajätteestä kierrätetään 55 prosenttia ja vuonna 2035 jo 65 prosenttia. Jatkossa kunnat järjestävät asumisessa muodostuvien erilliskerättävien jätteiden eli biojätteen ja pakkausjätteen kuljetuksen kiinteistöiltä siirtymäkauden jälkeen. Tuottajat maksavat kunnille korvauksia pakkauskeräyksestä. Lisäksi pakkausten tuottajilla on edelleen velvollisuus ylläpitää pakkausjätteen alueellisia vastaanottopaikkoja. Uudessa jäteasetuksessa säännellyt erilliskeräysvelvoitteet tiukentuivat. Uusilla valtioneuvoston määräyksillä säädellään, mitkä jätejakeet kiinteistöistä kerätään, mutta kunnat voivat tiukentaa tai väljentää erilliskeräysvaatimuksia jätehuoltomääräyksissään. Yhdyskuntajätehuollon järjestävät yhteistyössä kunnat, yritykset ja tuottajavastuuorganisaatiot. Kunnat on velvoitettu järjestämään asumisessa syntyvän jätteen, ja kunnan hallinto- ja palvelutoiminnassa syntyvän yhdyskuntajätteen jätehuolto. Kunnan on myös järjestettävä muun muassa asumisessa syntyvän vaarallisen jätteen vastaanotto ja käsittely. Kunnat ovat pääasiallisesti antaneet valtaosan käytännön jätehuoltotehtävistään alueellisille jätehuoltoyhtiöille. Kunnan jätehuollon ulkopuolelle yleensä kuuluu elinkeinotoiminnassa syntyvä jäte. Lähtökohtaisesti kaupat, yksityinen palvelutoiminta, yritykset, ja teollisuus- ja tuotantolaitokset vastaavat itse jätehuollostaan ja hankkivat itse palvelut sopivilta palveluntarjoajilta. Kunnan vastuulle kuuluvat kuitenkin niin sanotut kivijalkayritysten jätteet. Jätelain mukaan eräiden tuotteiden valmistajilla ja maahantuojilla on velvollisuus järjestää omalla kustannuksellaan tuotteiden jätehuolto, kun tuotteet poistetaan käytöstä. Näitä niin sanottuja tuottajavastuun piiriin kuuluvia tuotteita ovat sähkö- ja elektroniikkalaitteet, akut, paristot, ajoneuvot, renkaat, paperi ja kaikki pakkaukset. Yritys voi hoitaa tuottajavastuun: 1) Liittymällä tuottajayhteisön jäseneksi, jolloin tuottajavastuu siirtyy tuottajayhteisölle, joka hoitaa tuottajavastuuvelvollisuudet. 2) Tekemällä Pirkanmaan ELY-keskukselle tuottajarekisterihakemuksen, ja ärjestämällä omalla kustannuksellaan tuotteiden keräyksen, kierrätyksen ja muun jätehuollon. 3) Perustamalla tuottajayhteisön yhdessä muiden tuottajien kanssa.
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Kiinteistöjen jätehuollon maksut muodostuvat kerättävien jätelajien kustannuksista (keräysastian hankintakulut, tyhjennysmaksut, astiapesut), sekä joillain alueilla erillisestä ekomaksusta. Jätehuolto on asukasta kohden laskettuna edelleen edullisinta kerrostalokiinteistössä, vaikka kerättävien jätelajien lukumäärä on suurin. Hinta selittynee osaltaan asukkaiden suuremmalla määrällä kiinteistön keräyspaikkaa kohden ja keräystehokkuudella. Asukasta kohden laskettuna kalleinta jätehuolto on omakotitalossa, jossa ei ole biojätteen kompostointia kiinteistöllä. Jos omakotitalokiinteistöllä kompostoidaan biojätteet itse, alentaa se jätehuollon kustannukset lähelle kerrostaloasukkaan tasoa asukasta kohden. Asiasanat: yhdyskuntajäte, jätehuolto, erilliskeräys, tuottajavastuu, jätelainsäädäntö
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Municipal waste management in Finland
Sammandrag Hantering av kommunalt avfall i Finland År 2021 uppgick den totala mängden kommunalt avfall i Finland till nästan 3,5 miljoner ton. Det uppkom ungefär 629 kilogram kommunalt avfall per invånare. År 2021 var den mest betydande hanteringsformen för det kommunala avfallet energiåtervinning. Dess andel uppgick till över 60 procent. Andelen materialåtervinning av det kommunala avfallet uppgick till 39 procent, och andelen deponering endast till ungefär 0,4 procent. Det producerades ungefär 1,6 miljoner ton separat insamlat avfall. Av de separat insamlade avfallspartierna har de största oftast varit papper, kartong och bioavfall. Blandavfallet som samlas in från hushållen består vanligtvis i huvudsak av bioavfall, plast, papper samt kartong- och pappavfall. En tredjedel av blandavfallet är bioavfall och även många andra avfallskomponenter skulle i princip gå att återvinna. De egentliga blandade avfallen utgör i genomsnitt endast 18 procent av blandavfallets sammanlagda mängd. Målet för den finländska avfallspolitiken är att främja en hållbar användning av naturtillgångar och samtidigt säkerställa att avfallet inte orsakar miljö- eller hälsoolägenheter. Finlands avfallspolitik bygger på Europeiska unionens avfallspolitik. I enlighet med avfallslagen är det i första hand innehavaren av avfallet, såsom till exempel privatpersoner, fastighetsinnehavare eller företag som ansvarar för att ordna avfallshanteringen, men med avvikelse från huvudregeln ansvarar även kommunerna samt producenterna och importörerna av vissa produkter för sin del för ordnandet av avfallshanteringen. Inom avfallshanteringen måste man använda den bästa ekonomiskt tillgängliga tekniken, och så bra bekämpningsmetoder för hälso- och miljöskador som möjligt. Finlands avfallslagstiftning bygger i hög grad på EU:s lagstiftning, men är i vissa fall striktare. Finlands avfallslagstiftning omfattar allt avfall frånsett vissa specialavfall. En omfattande reform trädde i kraft genom avfallslagen 19.7.2021. Genom reformen främjas återvinning och cirkulär ekonomi: År 2025 återvinns i Finland 55 procent av det kommunala avfallet och 2035 redan 65 procent. I fortsättningen ordnar kommunerna transporten av det avfall som uppkommer inom boende och som samlas in separat, det vill säga bioavfall och förpackningsavfall, från fastigheterna efter övergångsperioden. Producenterna betalar ersättningar till kommunerna för förpackning insamlingen. Därtill har producenterna av förpackningar fortfarande skyldighet att upprätthålla regionala mottagningsplatser för förpackningsavfall. I den nya avfallsförordningen skärptes de reglerade förpliktelserna för separatinsamling. Med statsrådets nya förordningar justeras vilka avfallsfraktioner som samlas in från fastigheterna, men kommunerna kan skärpa eller utvidga kraven på separatinsamling i sina avfallsförordningar. Kommunal avfallshantering organiseras i samarbete mellan kommuner, företag och producentorganisationer. Kommunerna är förpliktade att ordna avfallshanteringen av det kommunala avfallet som uppkommer inom boende och kommunens förvaltnings- och serviceverksamhet. Kommunen måste också ordna bland annat mottagningen och hanteringen av farligt avfall som uppkommer inom boende. Kommunerna har i huvudsak gett sina praktiska avfallshanteringsuppgifter till de regionala avfallshanteringsbolagen. Den kommunala avfallshanteringen omfattar vanligtvis inte det avfall som uppkommer inom näringslivsverksamheten. I princip svarar affärerna, den privata serviceverksamheten, företag samt industri- och produktionsanläggningar själva för sin avfallshantering och köper själva tjänsterna av lämpliga tjänsteleverantörer. Kommunen ansvarar emellertid för avfallet från så kallade kvartersbutiker. I enlighet med avfallslagen är producenterna och importörerna av några produkterna förpliktade att själva betala avfallshanteringen av produkterna när de kasseras. Dessa produkter som omfattas av producentansvar inkluderar elektrisk och elektronisk utrustning, ackumulatorer, batterier, fordon, däck, papper och alla förpackningar.
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Ett företag kan sköta producentansvaret: 1) genom att bli medlem i en producentsammanslutning, varvid producentansvaret överförs till producentsammanslutningen som sköter förpliktelserna för producentansvaret, 2) genom att fylla i en producentregisteransökan till NTM-centralen i Birkaland, och genom att själv betala för insamlingen, återvinningen och den övriga avfallshanteringen av produkterna, 3) genom att bilda en producentsammanslutning med övriga producenter. De betalningar för fastigheternas avfallshantering består av kostnaderna för de insamlande avfallstyperna (anskaffningskostnaderna för insamlingskärl, tömningsavgifter, tvätt av kärlen), samt i vissa områden av en separat ekoavgift. Avfallshanteringen är per invånare beräknat förmånligast i höghusfastigheter fastän antalet avfallstyper som samlas in är störst. Förklaringen till priset torde vara det större antalet invånare per insamlingsplats och insamlingseffektiviteten. Beräknat per invånare är avfallshanteringen dyrast för egnahemshus som inte komposterar bioavfall på fastighetens område. Om man vid egnahemshusfastigheten själv komposterar bioavfallet blir kostnaderna för avfallshanteringen nära nivån för höghusinvånare per invånare. Ämnesord: kommunalt avfall, avfallshantering, separatinsamling, producentansvar, avfallslagstiftning
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Municipal waste management in Finland
Vocabulary Based on the definitions of Statistics Finland (Statistics Finland, 2021a). Domestic waste (household waste) Waste originating from the consumption of households’ living. Energy recovery Incineration of waste to recover the energy it contains. Final disposal of waste Depositing waste permanently at a site reserved for this purpose, such as a landfill. Hazardous waste Hazardous waste refers to waste whose chemical or other properties deviate from those of other waste so that it can endanger or pose harm to health or the environment and therefore has to be made harmless or recovered according to specific instructions. Landfill A landfill is a waste treatment site for the final disposal of municipal waste, hazardous waste or other waste, such as aggregate. Municipal waste Municipal waste refers to waste generated in households and waste comparable to household waste that is generated in production, especially in the service industries. The general common feature of municipal waste is that it is generated in the consumption of final products in communities and is covered by municipal waste management systems.
separately from mixed waste, which is made possible by sorting at source. Waste Waste refers to any substance or object which the holder discards or intends or is obliged to discard. Waste classification Wastes are classified according to their manner of generation, composition or some other factor. The Ministry of the Environment Decree on the List of the Most Common Wastes and of Hazardous Wastes is used in waste management in Finland. It is based on the EU Commission's decision on the European List of Waste. Waste management Organised activity for the purpose of collecting, transporting and storing waste as well as arranging for the recovery, final treatment or disposal of waste. Activities aimed at the prevention of waste generation are also regarded as waste management Waste recycling Use of waste as raw material or other material. Energy recovery is not regarded as recycling even though it involves resource recovery. Reuse of used goods, such as refilling of beverage bottles, is not recycling. However, reuse is part of waste management because it prevents the generation of waste.
Resource recovery Waste can be recovered as energy (energy recovery) or by recycling (material recovery). In recycling, the material contained in waste is returned back to production. Recycling of waste does not include reuse of second-hand goods.
Waste treatment Waste treatment refers to the recovery, neutralisation and final disposal of waste. Operations with which the composition, structure or another property of generated waste is changed in order to facilitate the activities listed above are also regarded as waste treatment.
Separately collected waste Separately collected waste refers to waste that is collected for a specific purpose
Waste type A mixture of waste comprised of one or more waste fractions or components.
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Forewords This is a compilation of the Finnish municipal waste management system prepared in the EU LIFE IP programme funded Circwaste project. The report places weight on the recycling of municipal waste, producer responsibility, costs and the practical arrangements of sustainable waste management for properties. The report’s sources include data produced by parties such as Statistics Finland, web pages of the environmental administration, Ministry of the Environment, the joint municipal authority Helsinki Region Environmental Services HSY, Finnish Packaging Recycling RINKI Ltd and Suomen Kiertovoima ry (KIVO), as well as legislation and regulations. The waste management system of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area is used as an example in the report, although there may be significant regional differences in the arrangements and costs of waste management. The costs of producer responsibility are national, and the property-specific and occupant-specific costs are averages drawn from a survey conducted by KIVO.
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Municipal waste management in Finland
Content Municipal waste management in Finland Abstract ..................................................................................................................................... 3 Tiivistelmä ................................................................................................................................ 5 Sammandrag ............................................................................................................................. 7 Vocabulary ................................................................................................................................ 9 Forewords ............................................................................................................................... 10 1 Background ......................................................................................................................... 13 1.1 The total amount and treatment of municipal waste ......................................................... 13 1.2 Waste accumulation per occupant .................................................................................... 14 2 Composition of Finnish mixed waste ............................................................................ 16 3 Waste Act ............................................................................................................................. 17 The Newest Waste Act .................................................................................................... 17 What changes?................................................................................................................. 17 New Waste Decree and separate collection obligations.................................................. 18 4 The objective of waste policy ........................................................................................ 19 5 Waste planning in Finland ............................................................................................... 20 6 Administrative duties related to waste management in Finland ........................ 21 7 Responsibilities of municipalities in waste management....................................... 23 8 Producer responsibility ..................................................................................................... 24 8.1 Who is a producer? ........................................................................................................... 24 8.2 Setting up a producer corporation..................................................................................... 25 8.3 Seller’s obligation to accept products ............................................................................... 25 8.4 Producer responsibility for waste paper ........................................................................... 26 8.5 Electrical and electronic equipment and producer responsibility ..................................... 26 8.6 Producer responsibility for packaging .............................................................................. 27 8.7 Return systems for beverage containers ........................................................................... 28 9 On waste management costs and fees ...................................................................... 29 9.1 Municipal waste charges................................................................................................... 29 9.2 Other charges and taxes .................................................................................................... 29 9.3 Waste management fees of properties .............................................................................. 30 Collection fees ................................................................................................................. 30 Other fees and charges .................................................................................................... 31 Waste reception prices of municipal waste types ........................................................... 31
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Total annual costs ............................................................................................................ 32 Summary of property waste management charges according to KIVO .......................... 32 Waste management costs in relation to other property costs .......................................... 33 9.4 Examples of the fees of waste covered by producer responsibility .................................. 33 9.5 B2B packaging and waste management in properties ...................................................... 35 9.6 Financial figures of waste management companies ......................................................... 35 Salpakierto Oy ................................................................................................................. 36 Pirkanmaan Jätehuolto .................................................................................................... 36 10 Organising waste management for residents and businesses ......................... 37 10.1 Municipal waste generated by municipal administrative and service activities ............. 37 Education and culture (only until the end of 2025):........................................................ 37 Sports services: ................................................................................................................ 37 Social and health care services ........................................................................................ 37 Public utilities and business services: ............................................................................. 38 10.2 Waste management of companies and organisations ..................................................... 38 10.3 Organisation of waste management in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area as an example .......................................................................................................................... 39 10.4 Waste management regulations for the Helsinki Metropolitan Area – abridged and edited ................................................................................................................. 40 Collection of waste on properties .................................................................................... 41 Sortti Stations .................................................................................................................. 46 Sources .................................................................................................................................... 48
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Municipal waste management in Finland
1 Background
1.1 The total amount and treatment of municipal waste
Amount of MSW (tonnes)
The total amount of municipal waste generated in Finland in 2021 was 3,490,676 tonnes. The total amount increased by 110,000 tonnes (3,3%) compared to the previous year, whereas the previous year had seen an increase of 170,000 tonnes (5%) and the one before this 80,000 tonnes (3%). (Statistics Finland, 2021bc, 2022a,b) There were no major changes to the proportions accounted for by different waste treatment methods (material recovery, energy recovery, landfilling) compared to the previous year. In 2021, energy recovery was still the most significant method of treating municipal waste (over 60%). Energy recovery is based on the cogeneration of electricity and heat. The heat is utilised in district heating networks in particular. The proportion accounted for by material recovery of waste was 39 per cent, while landfilling only accounted for approximately 0.4 per cent. The materials deposited in landfills primarily include aggregate, asbestos, other fines (e.g. ash) and non-combustible waste. This is thanks to the ban on the landfilling of organic waste that was launched in 2016. (Statistics Finland, 2021b; 2022a,b) The amount of municipal waste per treatment method between 2002 and 2021 is shown in Figure 1. 3500000 3000000 Landfilling and other disposal Material recovery
2500000 2000000
Energy recovery
1500000 1000000 500000
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
0
Year Figure 1. The amount of municipal waste (thousand tonnes) per treatment method between 2002 and 2021. This data is based on the annual waste statistics of Statistics Finland, among other sources.
The proportion of mixed waste in particular increased in 2021; more than 1.7 million tonnes of it was generated in municipalities (increase of 60,000 compared to 2020). The amount of separately collected waste generated was approximately 1.6 million tonnes (decrease of 40,000 tonnes from the previous year). (Statistics Finland, 2022b) Paper, paperboard and biowaste have usually accounted for the largest proportions of separately collected materials. The recycling rate of cardboard, paperboard and paper was calculated to be over 100 per cent, which is due to the calculation method being affected by packaging accompanying online shop orders and imports by travellers, as well as companies with a smaller turnover. The amount of
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13
separately collected biowaste decreased from the previous year. Most of the separately collected biowaste was composted and anaerobically digested. Anaerobic digestion generates biogas and digestate that can be utilised as a soil conditioner or used similarly to compost in landscaping, for example. (Statistics Finland, 2022,b) The amount of municipal waste also increased in relation to the population of Finland. Its amount was approximately 500 kg per capita at the start of the 2010s but even approximately 629 kg per capita in 2021. (Statistics Finland, 2022b) Table 1 shows the amount of municipal waste generated in Finland in 2021 in tonnes. The table shows both the mixed waste collected and separately collected waste fractions, as well as their treatment methods. (Statistics Finland, 2022b) Table 1. Municipal waste generated in Finland in 2021 in tonnes. (Statistics Finland, 2022b)
Mixed waste Separately collected waste total, of which - Paper and cardboard waste - Biodegradable waste - Glass waste - Metal waste - Wood waste - Plastic waste - Electrical and electronic waste - Other separately collected fractions Other and unspecified waste Total amount of municipal waste (tonnes)
All treatment in total (tonnes) 1,720,691 1,564,572
Material recovery (excl. composting and anaerobic digestion) 0 924,958
Composting and anaerobic digestion
Energy recovery
Landfilling
1,696,637 217,481
Incineration without energy recovery 981 4,073
11,824 415,563
476,093
471,852
0
4,037
204
0
470,848 78,092 152,299 144,883 99,802 77,534
22,089 77,992 152,286 78,926 49,041 71,150
395,446 0 0 232 0 0
51,385 19 2 64,542 50,239 6,346
28 14 11 1,183 32 38
1,900 67 0 0 490 0
65,021
1,622
19,885
40,911
2,563
40
205,413
8,179
0
195,447
1,034
753
3,490,676
933,137
427,387
2,109,565
6,088
14,499
11,249 2,497
1.2 Waste accumulation per occupant Suomen Kiertovoima ry (KIVO) represents public waste management. It has collected information from waste management companies regarding waste, including waste accumulations, for 2019. Regional waste management companies owned by municipalities primarily take care of the service function related to arranging municipal waste management in Finland. In 2019, 31 of the waste management companies operating in Finland were members of KIVO, and 5.3 million Finns (97% of the population) lived in their operating areas. (KIVO, 2020a) Waste accumulation refers to the amount of waste (kg/occupant/year) that ends up in property-specific waste collection. The size of the waste accumulation is affected by the amount of waste generated, the property type and the coverage of the regional collection of recyclable waste in the area. The total waste accumulation (Table 2) comprises the waste types collected separately at the property’s collection point (Table 3) and the remaining amount of mixed waste. (KIVO, 2020a)
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Municipal waste management in Finland
Table 2. Total amounts of waste accumulated for property-specific collection per property type (KIVO, 2020a) Property type Apartment building Terraced house Detached house Detached house with composting
Accumulation, average (kg/occupant/year) 237 239 185 135
Table 3. Accumulations of different waste types for property-specific collection per property type (KIVO, 2020a) Waste type
Property type
Biowaste
Apartment building Terraced house
Waste type accumulation, average (kg/occupant/year) 40 43
Detached house
58
Paperboard
Apartment building Terraced house
12 12
Glass (recyclable glass)
Apartment building Terraced house
5 4
Metal (small metal objects)
Apartment building Terraced house
2 2
Plastic Paper
Apartment building Apartment building Terraced house
9 52 53
Mixed waste
Apartment building Terraced house
116 125
Detached house
127–135
Municipal waste management in Finland
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2 Composition of Finnish mixed waste
The composition of Finnish mixed waste according to KIVO (2020b) is shown in Figure 2. Mixed waste generally consists mostly of biowaste, plastic, paper and cardboard waste. About 1/3 of mixed waste is biowaste and many other waste fractions are basically recyclables, which people have not separated correctly. Miscellaneous waste comprises in average only 18% of the total amount of waste and consists of miscellaneous packaging (e.g. multi-material packaging), diapers and hygiene products and other materials, which cannot be easily utilized.
Finnish mixed waste Biowaste 33% Plastic 17% Paper 9% Textiles and shoes 6% Glass 2.5% Metal 2% Wood 1.5% Electrical appliances, batteries 1% Dangerous chelmicals 0.5% Cardboard 8% Miscellaneous 18.5%
Figure 2. The composition of Finnish mixed waste according to KIVO (2020b)
However, it is worth noting that more precise studies on the composition of municipal waste need to be carried out in order to form an optimal and comparable waste management model.
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Municipal waste management in Finland
3 Waste Act
The Finnish waste legislation is largely based on EU legislation, but in some cases it is stricter. Finnish waste legislation covers all wastes except certain special types of waste, e.g. radioactive wastes. General waste legislation in Finland consists of the Waste Act and the Waste Decree. The environmental impacts of wastes are also addressed in the legislation on environmental protection, namely in the Environmental Protection Act and the Environmental Protection Decree. In addition, there are numerous government decrees and decisions on specific waste types or activities, waste treatment, and directly applicable EU regulations. The Finnish waste legislation is being reformed in relation to the execution of the waste package approved by the EU in 2018. (Ministry of the Environment, 2020)
The Newest Waste Act The latest, wide-ranging reform came into force through the Waste Act on July 19, 2021. The reform will boost recycling and the circular economy. The Waste Act obliges waste operators to separate collection and to recycle waste more efficiently than currently. In addition, there will be new accounting, monitoring and reporting obligations for operators. The aim is, that in 2025, 55% of municipal waste will be recycled in Finland and in 2035 65% will already be recycled. Efficient separate collection is essential to increase the recycling rate. Precise requirements for the waste management of households, businesses and other operators will be laid down by the decrees. Separate collection obligations are intended to take effect gradually between July 2022 and July 2024. (Waste Act, 2011; Government Decree on Waste, 2021)
What changes? Municipalities will organize the transport of separate collectable wastes from housing, namely biowaste, metal waste, and packaging waste from properties after a transitional period. The transport system will change in the municipalities where the transport of waste has been transferred to the responsibility of the holder of the residential property at the moment. The municipality may continue to decide, if the conditions laid down in the law are fulfilled, that the holder of the residential property arranges the transport of mixed municipal waste by agreeing directly with the transport company. Municipalities and packaging producers will organize separate collection of housing packaging waste from real estate in a joint operation. Producers will pay compensation to municipalities for collection. In addition, packaging producers will still have a duty to maintain regional reception sites for packaging waste. (Ministry of the Environment, 2021) Producers responsible for the waste management of packaging materials will be merged into a “super producer corporation”, which will be responsible for the obligations of producers relating to all packaging materials. In all product categories, producer responsibility will be extended to international remote trade. Producers outside of Finland may fulfil their obligations through an authorised representative in Finland or by accession to the producer community. Producer liability charges levied by producer entities on producers will be staggered to favour recyclability, fixability, upgradeability and reusability of products. The producer community will receive the funds necessary for the recycling and waste management of its products under producer responsibility from producer liability fees paid by consumers at the price of the product. The monitoring of waste flows will be intensified and the digitalization of the sector will progress. There will be tightening in the accountancy and disclosure obligations of operators. In monitoring the flow of hazardous and certain other wastes, electronic transfer documents will be
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used. The procedures to be followed in applying for municipal secondary waste management services will be amended for public procurement entities. (Ministry of the Environment, 2021)
New Waste Decree and separate collection obligations New Governmental Decrees will regulate which waste fractions should be collected on properties, but municipalities can tighten or reduce separate collection requirements in their waste management regulations. New separate collection obligations regulated by new waste decrees are e.g.; (Government Decree on Waste, 2021) • Separate collection of biowaste will start in all agglomerations in properties of at least five apartments by July 2022 at the latest and separate collection of small metal and packaging waste by July 2023. • equivalent requirements for non-residential properties (from July 2022). • In addition, separate collection of biowaste will be extended to all properties in agglomerations of more than 10,000 inhabitants by July 2024 at the latest • Regional reception of textile waste will start in 2023 at the latest. • There will be at least 1,000 regional reception points for household packaging waste and sufficient amount of terminals throughout the country for the collection of non-household packaging waste and packaging waste collected from properties. More information on the reform of the Waste Act can be found in Finnish on the Jätesäädöspaketti web-site of the Ministry of the Environment at: https://ym.fi/jatesaadospaketti
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Municipal waste management in Finland
4 The objective of waste policy
The objective of Finnish waste policy is to promote sustainable use of natural resources while ensuring that waste does not pose any harm to the environment or health. Finland’s waste policy is based on the European Union’s waste policy. The key principles of the waste policy have been adopted in the Finnish waste legislation. (Website of Finland’s environmental administration, 2023a) The principles of the Finnish and EU waste policies are: (Website of Finland’s environmental administration, 2023a) • Prevention • The production and harmful impact of waste should be reduced and prevented whenever possible. • Polluter pays • The producer of waste bears all the waste management costs. • Producer responsibility • Instead of waste producers, manufacturers and importers of certain product types bear the responsibility for the waste management of their products when they become waste. • Precautionary principle • Potential risks related to waste and waste management should be anticipated. • Proximity principle • Waste should be treated as near as possible to its source. • Self-sufficiency principle • The European Union and each of its Member States are self-sufficient in their waste management. Order of priority is a key principle of waste management in the EU and Finland: (Website of Finland’s environmental administration, 2023a) 1. The first priority is to prevent the generation of waste. 2. If the generation of waste cannot be prevented, the waste must be prepared for reuse. 3. If the waste cannot be reused, it must primarily be recycled as material and secondarily recovered as energy. 4. Waste can be disposed of in landfills only if its recovery is not technically or economically feasible. The responsibilities for organising waste management are divided into three groups (Yrittäjät, 2020): • For waste generated in dwellings, as well as waste comparable to it in terms of composition, properties and amount (excluding hazardous waste), the responsibility for organising waste management falls to the municipality. • For waste generated by business activity, the responsibility for organising waste management generally falls to the company that generates the waste, with the exceptions mentioned above. • For waste covered by producer responsibility, the responsibility for organising waste management falls to the products’ importers, manufacturers and packagers.
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5 Waste planning in Finland
“From Recycling to a Circular Economy – National Waste Plan to 2027” sets out Finland’s objectives and targets for waste prevention and waste management and explains the measures taken to reach them. The Finnish Government approved the Waste Plan in 2022. (Ministry of the Environment, 2022) The target state described for 2030 in the latest National Waste Plan is as follows (Ministry of the Environment, 2022): “1. Material-efficient production and consumption save natural resources and mitigate climate change. 2. The volume of waste has decreased from the present. Recycling and reuse have risen to a new level. 3. High-quality waste management is part of a sustainable circular economy. 4. Circular economy markets function well. Recycling and reuse create new jobs. 5. Valuable raw materials present in recycled materials even in small concentrations can be recovered. 6. Material cycles cause no harm and hazardous substances are used less and less in production. 7. Cooperation between operators in the sector promotes high-quality material cycles. 8. Reliable and comprehensive data supports the circular economy. Information is available for use in digital form. 9. There is high-quality research and experimentation in the waste sector and expertise on waste management is of a high standard. 10. Legislation supports circular economy innovations and the conditions where it operates.” The Waste Plan’s detailed measures and targets are set for following focus areas: municipal waste, packaging waste, reduction of single-use plastic products, biodegradable waste, construction and demolition waste, and waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). The plan was prepared in cooperation with waste industry experts and interest groups. Indicators are used for monitoring the Waste Plan, and the implementation of the measures will be reviewed during the plan period. The National Waste Plan was up for review and an update between 2020 - 2022. The EU’s reformed Waste Framework Directive and Directive on the reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment require new content to be added to the Waste Plan. The plan was to also implement the Government Programme entry “We will create a vision for the waste management sector that supports recycling and circular economy targets and extends into the 2030s. Our goal is to increase the recycling rate to at least the level of the EU’s recycling targets” in the same update. (Ministry of the Environment, 2022a) Earlier, in addition to the national plan, there were also regional waste plans, but with the changes in the waste legislation due to reform, they no renounced. (Website of Finland’s environmental administration, 2023a)
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Municipal waste management in Finland
6 Administrative duties related to waste management in Finland The Ministry of the Environment participates in the preparation of Finnish, European and global waste policies. The Finnish legislation is prepared based on the legislation of the European Union and international agreements. The Ministry of the Environment develops, steers and monitors the application and interpretation of the Waste Act. (Website of Finland’s environmental administration, 2023a) The Regional State Administrative Agencies issue environmental permits for major waste treatment facilities, such as large-scale waste recovery and final treatment plants that treat non-hazardous waste, waste incineration plants, hazardous waste treatment plants and landfills. The Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY) monitor and steer the waste management of municipalities and companies. ELY Centres monitor compliance with environmental permits and register professional waste carriers and brokers in the waste management register. (Website of Finland’s environmental administration, 2023a) The Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment for Pirkanmaa monitors compliance with the provisions on producer responsibility on a national level. The Finnish Environment Institute acts as the correspondent pursuant to the EU Waste Shipment Regulation and monitors international waste shipments. The Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency (Tukes) and the National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health (Valvira) each monitor compliance with product requirements concerning certain electrical and electronic equipment (EEE). (Website of Finland’s environmental administration, 2023a)
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Municipalities are responsible for the management of waste generated in dwellings. Many municipalities have transferred the waste management functions to a regional waste company. Waste companies are owned by municipalities and are therefore non-profit in nature. A waste company handles many of the duties for which municipalities are responsible, such as waste guidance, waste transport, composting plants, incineration plants and landfills. The municipal waste management authority is responsible for the public administrative duties related to the municipality’s waste management, such as deciding on the municipal waste tariff and waste treatment system. A regional waste management company owned by several municipalities must also set up a joint organ to handle the administrative duties. (Website of Finland’s environmental administration, 2023a) Municipal environment protection authorities can operate in one or more municipalities. Municipal environmental authorities grant environmental permits for small-scale waste management activity (e.g. small storage facilities for hazardous waste and storage of end-of-life vehicles), accept notifications of professional waste carriers in the waste management register, and monitor that companies and private individuals comply with the Waste Act. (Website of Finland’s environmental administration, 2023a)
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Municipal waste management in Finland
7 Responsibilities of municipalities in waste management In accordance with the Waste Act, waste holders, such as private individuals, property holders or companies, are primarily responsible for the management of waste. As an exception to this rule, municipalities, as well as manufacturers and importers of certain products, also bear responsibility for organising waste management for their part. The most economically viable technology and the best practices for preventing harmful environmental or health effects must be used in waste management. The Waste Act prohibits uncontrolled dumping or treatment of waste. (Website of Finland’s environmental administration, 2023a) Municipalities are responsible for organising the management of waste generated in dwellings and municipal waste generated by the municipality’s administrative and service functions. Municipalities must also arrange the recovery and treatment of hazardous waste generated in dwellings, as well as hazardous waste from agriculture and forestry, unless excessive quantities are involved. In addition, municipalities are responsible for providing information and advice on waste management. Municipalities have generally assigned most of their practical waste management duties to regional waste management companies. (Website of Finland’s environmental administration, 2023a) Municipalities are not responsible for waste covered by producer responsibility. Producer responsibility refers to the responsibility of manufacturers and importers (i.e. “producers”) to organise and pay for the management of waste resulting from their products. Producer responsibility covers the tyres of motor vehicles and other vehicles and equipment; cars, vans and other comparable vehicles; batteries and accumulators; newspapers, magazines, office paper and other comparable paper products, electronic and electrical appliances (EEE); and packaging. The producers or producer corporations formed by producers are obliged to organise regional collection points for waste of this type. (Website of Finland’s environmental administration, 2023a) The waste management regulations issued by municipalities are based on the Waste Act, according to which “a municipality may issue general regulations applicable to the municipality or part thereof when they are necessary for implementing this Act due to local circumstances”. Waste management regulations are instruments in the enforcement of the Waste Act. Municipal waste management regulations can be used to define the execution of the Waste Act’s provisions or the Finnish Government’s general regulations more closely. Municipalities primarily have control over the waste defined in the Waste Act that falls within municipalities’ obligation to organise waste management. Waste management regulations designate the places of delivery for waste that falls under the municipality’s responsibility, among other things. However, waste management regulations cannot stipulate where waste generated by business activity must be delivered, for example, or impose obligations regarding sorting or separate collection on sole proprietors. (Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities, 2020)
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8 Producer responsibility
According to the Waste Act, manufacturers and importers are obligated to organise waste management at their own expense when their products are discarded. Failure to take care of producer responsibility can result in a penalty payment for negligence. (ELY Centre, 2022c)
8.1 Who is a producer? The following are classified as producers with producer responsibility: 1. manufacturers and importers of EEE as well as vendors who sell such equipment under their own brand 2. manufacturers and importers of accumulators and batteries (including importers of vehicles and electrical equipment that contain accumulators and batteries) 3. manufacturers and importers of cars, vans or other comparable vehicles as well as operators who import vehicles in the name of a Finnish user 4. importers, manufacturers and retreaders of tyres as well as importers of vehicles and equipment equipped with tyres 5. importers of paper products as well as manufacturers and importers of paper used to manufacture paper products 6. all packagers and importers of packaged products The authority monitoring the implementation of producer responsibility in Finland (excluding the Åland Islands) is the ELY Centre for Pirkanmaa. The ELY Centre for Pirkanmaa keeps a public list of the companies accepted in the producer register. The list includes both producers and producer corporations. The ELY Centre also compiles national statistics on producer responsibility and reports them to the European Commission. (ELY Centre, 2022g) A company can fulfil its producer responsibility: (ELY Centre, 2022c) 1. by joining a producer corporation, in which case the producer responsibility is transferred to the producer corporation, which fulfils the producer responsibility obligations provided in the Waste Act on behalf of the producer 2. by submitting an application for registration in the producer register to the ELY Centre for Pirkanmaa and organising the collection, recycling and other waste management of products covered by the company’s producer responsibility at its own expense 3. by setting up a producer corporation together with other producers. If the company bears producer responsibility for several areas of producer responsibility (such as both EEE and packaging), the company has to fulfil its producer responsibility separately for each area. The ELY Centre for Pirkanmaa can impose a penalty payment for negligence if the producer fails to fulfil its producer responsibility. The penalty payment is one per cent of the company’s turnover for the previous year but no less than €500 and no more than €500,000. (ELY Centre, 2022h)
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Municipal waste management in Finland
8.2 Setting up a producer corporation Producers can set up a joint producer corporation to fulfil the obligations imposed on them. All members must be producers in the producer responsibility area in question, even when the founders are associations or other organisations. Only producers in the area in question are allowed to be members of a producer corporation. (ELY Centre, 2022c) The producer corporation must submit an application for registration in the producer register to the ELY Centre for Pirkanmaa in order to operate as a producer corporation. The application must provide information on the producer corporation’s activities, such as information on the corporation’s rules and solvency, as well as a description of the organisation of waste management. The documents must also include information confirming that all owners, shareholders and members of the producer corporation are producers in the producer responsibility area in question, as well as information on the sharing of obligations between producers, acceptance of new members, etc. (ELY Centre, 2022c)
8.3 Seller’s obligation to accept products According to the Waste Act, the seller (product distributor) must accept discarded accumulators, batteries, EEE and tyres free of charge at the seller’s point of sale, and the seller is also obligated to provide information about the fact that it accepts discarded products. The costs incurred from accepting discarded products are borne by the seller, while the producers (i.e. importers and manufacturers) will bear any costs incurred after they have been accepted, such as transport and handling costs. (ELY Centre, 2022b) Products accepted without the obligation to purchase a new product include: (ELY Centre, 2022b) • Portable accumulators and batteries, including AA and AAA batteries, button cell batteries and accumulators and batteries used in mobile phones, laptops, toys, cordless tools and electric toothbrushes and shavers. • Small (less than 25 cm) household EEE, such as energy-saving lamps, mobile phones and their chargers, electric toothbrushes, hair dryers, toys and power tools. The obligation to accept discarded products applies to convenience stores with a sales floor area of more than 1,000 square metres or other stores that sell EEE and have a sales floor area of more than 200 square metres. A reception point can also be set up in the immediate vicinity of the point of sale. The seller must also accept equipment from places other than households if they correspond to household equipment in quantity and quality. When a new corresponding product is purchased as a replacement, the seller must accept the following products: (ELY Centre, 2022b) • Large household EEE, i.e. the seller must accept the equipment free of charge when the customer purchases a new corresponding device as a replacement. A reception point can also be set up in the immediate vicinity of the point of sale. The seller must also accept equipment from places other than households if they correspond to household equipment in quantity and quality. • Vehicle tyres, i.e. the seller must accept them free of charge when the customer purchases the same number of tyres of the same type as replacements. The obligation to accept tyres free of charge only applies to tyres without rims. Automotive batteries (discarded starter batteries) from consumers are regarded as products accepted voluntarily. If a store that sells starter batteries to consumers accepts discarded starter batteries, it must accept them free of charge without obligation to purchase a new product. (ELY Centre, 2022b)
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Customers must be provided with information on reception points arranged by the seller for discarded products through the store’s marketing or on signboards put up at points of sale, for example. The seller bears the costs of this provision of information. The discarded products received by the seller may only be delivered to carriers or handlers who have an agreement with the producer (importer or manufacturer). Pursuant to the Waste Act, the delivery of such products to other parties is forbidden. Producers are responsible for the waste management of the products after they leave the store, and they bear the costs of this waste management. (ELY Centre, 2022b) Accumulators, batteries, EEE and tyres discarded by consumers can also be taken free of charge to reception points organised by producers and producer corporations. (ELY Centre, 2022b)
8.4 Producer responsibility for waste paper Professional importers of paper products and manufacturers and importers of paper used in the manufacturing of paper products are subject to producer responsibility. The parties in question must organise the recovery and waste management of newspapers, magazines, office paper, commercial catalogues, envelopes and other paper products at their own expense. (ELY Centre, 2022e, g) The easiest way for a company to fulfil its producer responsibility obligations is to become a member of a producer corporation. By joining a producer corporation, the company transfers its producer responsibility obligations to the corporation. There are two approved producer corporations for waste paper operating in Finland: Suomen Keräyspaperi Tuottajayhteisö Oy and Suomen Keräystuote Oy. (ELY Centre, 2022e, g) Pursuant to the Waste Act, producers must organise a national collection network to which people can bring waste paper free of charge. The producer corporations have organised a national collection network on behalf of their members, in addition to which they are responsible for reaching the recovery target for waste paper. (ELY Centre, 2022e, g) The principle is that paper products are collected separately from each property. The collection point and container for paper collection are part of properties’ obligations, but this obligation does not apply to properties located in residential areas with detached houses or dispersed settlements for which producer corporations have arranged paper collection at regional reception points. In this case, the property can enter into an agreement with a collector regarding paper collection for a fee. (ELY Centre, 2022e, g) The costs of arranging a paper collection container and collection point, such as the rent for the collection container, are borne by the property, while the producer corporation pays for the management of the waste paper from there onwards. Properties may not be charged a fee for emptying the collection container or transporting the waste paper. (ELY Centre, 2022e, g)
8.5 Electrical and electronic equipment and producer responsibility Manufacturers and importers of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE), as well as sellers who sell equipment under their own trademark, are subject to producer responsibility for EEE. This producer responsibility covers almost all EEE intended for professional use and for use by consumers. (ELY Centre, 2022f, g) The producer responsibility obligations for EEE intended for consumers are considerable, which is why companies should join a producer corporation. All equipment that is or can be used in households is regarded as EEE intended for consumers, regardless of whether it is sold to households or companies. If the company’s product range only includes equipment intended for professional use, the company can join a producer corporation or apply for registration in the producer register and organise the recycling,
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reuse and other waste management of products it has imported and manufactured once they are discarded. (ELY Centre, 2022f, g) There are five approved producer corporations in the electrical and electronics industry. They can all be contacted through their joint service company Elker Oy. These producer corporations are ERP Finland ry, SER-Tuottajayhteisö ry, SELT Association, ICT Producer Co-operative and Flip Association. Producer responsibility can also be fulfilled by setting up a producer corporation with other producers of EEE. (ELY Centre, 2022f, g)
8.6 Producer responsibility for packaging Product packagers and importers of packaged products whose turnover is a minimum of €1 million are classified as producers in the packaging industry. Almost all products available on the Finnish market or in use by companies include packaging that is subject to producer responsibility. The definition of packaging covers all boxes, wraps, bags and film made of plastic, cardboard and other materials that are wrapped around the product, in addition to padding (e.g. foam rubber and polystyrene foam), pallets, transport boxes, barrels, metal or plastic straps used for securing packages and pallets, etc. Additionally, reusable boxes, bottles, cage trolleys, etc. are classified as packaging. (ELY Centre, 2022d, g) Producers can take care of their producer responsibility obligations by applying for registration in the producer register of the ELY Centre for Pirkanmaa or by joining a producer corporation. Producer responsibility can also be taken care of by setting up a producer corporation with other producers of packaging. When submitting an application for registration in the producer register, producers must provide information on how they organise waste management of the packaging they release on the market and how they meet the recycling requirements at their own expense. When producers join a producer corporation, they transfer their obligations to the corporation. In the case of beverage containers, producers can also fulfil their producer responsibility by joining a deposit-return system for beverage containers. (ELY Centre, 2022a, d, g) Producers and producer corporations for packaging must submit their monitoring data for the previous year to the ELY Centre for Pirkanmaa by 30 September every year. Producers who join a producer corporation do not have to report to the ELY Centre, as the producer corporation submits reports on behalf of its members. (ELY Centre, 2022d, g) Producers are responsible for ensuring that the packaging materials they release on the market are recycled in accordance with the requirements set out in the EU directive 94/62/EU (Table 4; ELY Centre, 2023) Table 4. Recycling targets for packaging materials according to the EU directive 94/62/EU. (ELY Centre, 2023) Packaging material Fibre (cardboard, paperboard, paper) Glass Metal Plastic Wood Aluminium Overall recycling target
Recycling target 2025 75% 70% 70% 50% 25% 50% 65%
Recycling target 2030 85% 75% 80% 55% 30% 60% 70%
There are five approved producer corporations for packaging in Finland, and they have a joint service company called Finnish Packaging Recycling RINKI Ltd. The packaging industry producer corporations can be joined through Rinki. (ELY Centre, 2022d, g)
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8.7 Return systems for beverage containers Beverage containers are subject to the beverage container tax, with the exception of containers covered by a deposit-return system, as they are refilled or recovered as raw material. The Tax Administration handles the taxation of beverage containers. Companies can make their beverage containers exempt from the tax by arranging their own return system or by joining an approved return system. The approved return systems are Suomen Palautuspakkaus Oy, Palpa Lasi Oy and Ekopulloyhdistys. The return system operator must submit an application to the ELY Centre for Pirkanmaa for acceptance into the producer register in order to get tax exemption. The decision on the return system’s acceptance is subject to a fee. (ELY Centre, 2022a, g) The recycling or reuse target for returnable beverage containers is at least 90 per cent, and a deposit is collected on beverage containers in order to reach these targets. The minimum deposit is: (ELY Centre, 2022a, g) • €0.15 for metal beverage cans • €0.20 for plastic containers larger than 0.35 litres but smaller than 1 litre • €0.40 for plastic containers at least 1 litre in size • €0.10 for other beverage containers.
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9 On waste management costs and fees
9.1 Municipal waste charges Pursuant to the Waste Act, municipalities must charge waste holders for the costs of the waste management they provide. Municipal waste charges are used to cover the costs of carrying out waste management. The waste charge must correspond to the service level provided by the municipality and, where possible, provide incentive to reduce the amount and harmfulness of waste and implement waste management in accordance with the order of priority laid down in the Waste Act. (Website of Finland’s environmental administration, 2023a) Municipal waste charges and their grounds are set out in municipal waste tariffs. The amount of the waste charge is affected by the type, quality and quantity of waste, as well as collection frequency. Other factors that affect the charge include the conditions for collecting and transporting waste on the property and in the pick-up area, the use of municipal waste collection equipment and the transport distance if the waste is picked up separately. Additionally, if it is otherwise difficult to determine the quantity and quality of the waste, the number of persons living on the property or the property’s purpose of use can be used as the basis for determining the fees for regional collection of mixed waste, for example. Municipal waste charges cover the costs of waste management under the municipality’s responsibility, such as costs incurred from waste transport; the establishment, maintenance, decommissioning and aftercare of treatment facilities; register maintenance; and waste guidance. A separate basic charge can also be collected to cover the costs of guidance and maintenance of registers outside the scope of waste management services. (Website of Finland’s environmental administration, 2023a) The waste charge must correspond to the service level of the waste management provided by the municipality, and it can be used to encourage the public to reduce waste, make it less harmful and utilise it. In many municipalities, the fee charged for waste that is sorted and fit for recovery is smaller than the fee for mixed municipal waste that is unfit for utilization. The waste charge is paid by the property holder or another waste holder, and its amount is determined based on the waste tariff approved by the municipality. (Environment, 2020e) (Website of Finland’s environmental administration, 2023a) Municipalities can also collect a separate basic charge, also known as an “eco charge”, to cover the costs incurred from the provision of waste guidance, maintenance of registers and other similar tasks related to waste management. (Website of Finland’s environmental administration, 2023a) The eco charge is only used in some of the municipalities. In other areas, service costs are covered with the collection fees for other waste fractions, among other things. The amount of the basic charge can be affected by the number of persons living on the property, the property’s purpose of use or other similar grounds. (KIVO, 2020b)
9.2 Other charges and taxes Waste tax is levied on all waste deposited in landfills, provided that its recovery is environmentally justifiable and technically feasible and that it can be made more commercially exploitable by imposing the tax. All waste types subject to tax are specified in the Annex to the Waste Tax Act (1126/2010). (Ministry of Finance, 2023) Waste types that have no technical recovery or treatment options other than disposal in landfills and waste types that would cause more harm than good if they were recovered are exempt from waste tax.
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Examples of such waste types include mineral waste and waste generated by inorganic chemical processes. Waste tax is not charged for hazardous waste deposited in landfills. Waste used with permission in landfill structures is also tax exempt. (Ministry of Finance, 2023) The waste materials used in landfill structures include crushed concrete, soil, aggregate, mildly contaminated soil, construction aggregate, treated sludge from plants, rejected construction materials containing aggregate, and crushed asphalt, for example. (HSY, 2020a) All landfills where taxable waste is deposited are subject to the waste tax. This includes both public and private landfills as well as waste disposal areas. The definition of a taxable landfill excludes storage of waste lasting less than three years, waste composting areas, waste recovery areas and soil landfilling areas. The waste tax has been €70 per tonne of waste since the start of 2016. (Ministry of Finance, 2023) The excise duty on beverage containers currently applies to packaging for alcoholic beverages, beer and soft drinks as well as bottled water and certain other beverage containers. The objective of this excise duty is to enhance the recycling of beverage containers, stop containers from ending up in municipal waste and prevent litter. The excise duty on beverage containers is €0.51 per litre. The excise duty does not apply to packaging that is covered by an approved deposit-return system and reusable or made of materials that are recycled. (Ministry of Finance, 2023) The oil damage charge, which is included in the price of lubrication oils, is 5.75 cents per kilo. These charges are used to cover the costs incurred from the management of oil waste and the remediation of soil and groundwater contaminated by oil. (Ministry of Finance, 2023)
9.3 Waste management fees of properties KIVO has gathered the latest waste information pertaining to 2019 on things such as collection fees, eco charges and total costs from waste management companies. (KIVO, 2020b) The cost information relates to regions where waste transport is organised by the municipality. This chapter examines waste management costs from the perspective of property holders, private residents, entrepreneurs, operators with producer responsibility as well as waste management companies. The cost information is not particularly comprehensive in every respect, but it provides a picture of how waste management costs and fees form and what they comprise and what they are by order of magnitude.
Collection fees Collection fees and the number of collection times vary depending on the waste type, property type and size and type of collection container (Tables 5–8). Table 5. Collection times and collection fees (incl. VAT) for waste types collected at apartment building properties per type of collection container. (KIVO, 2020b)
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Waste type
Collection container
Mixed waste Mixed waste Biowaste Paper Paperboard Paperboard Glass (recyclable glass) Metal (small metal objects) Metal (small metal objects) Plastic
Container 600/660 l Surface container 8 m3 Container 240 l Container 600/660 l Container 1,000 l Container 600/660 l Container 240 l Container 240 l Container 600/660 l Container 600/660 l
Municipal waste management in Finland
Times collected (times/year) 60 24 49 28 52 40 7 8 12 51
Collection fee (€/collection/container) 12.06 68.45 8.65 0 5.73 6.16 3.28 2.68 7.30 8.57
Table 6. Collection times and collection fees (incl. VAT) for waste types collected at terraced house properties per type of collection container. (KIVO, 2020b) Waste type
Collection container
Mixed waste Biowaste Biowaste Paper Paperboard Glass (recyclable glass) Metal (small metal objects) Metal (small metal objects)
Container 600/660 l Container 240 l Container 140 l Container 600/660 l Container 600/660 l Container 240 l Container 240 l Container 600/660 l
Times collected (times/year) 52 38 52 17 14 5 10 7
Collection fee (€/collection/container) 12.44 7.21 5.54 0 5.52 2.84 2.69 8.03
Table 7. Collection times and collection fees (incl. VAT) for waste types collected at detached house properties (that do not have composting) per type of collection container. (KIVO, 2020b) Waste type
Collection container
Mixed waste Biowaste
Container 240 l Container 240 l
Times collected (times/year) 25 19
Collection fee (€/collection/container) 7.17 8.48
Table 8. Collection times and collection fees (incl. VAT) for waste types collected at detached house properties (that have composting) per type of collection container. (KIVO, 2020b) Waste type
Collection container
Mixed waste
Container 240 l
Times collected (times/year) 20
Collection fee (€/collection/container) 7.06
Other fees and charges The collection containers required for collecting waste can be either purchased or leased by the property, or their purchasing costs can be included in the collection fee. The prices of surface containers ranged from €50–110 for smaller (0.14–0.4 m3) containers to €175–320 for larger (0.6–1 m3) containers. Very large (2–8 m3) surface containers cost €1,250–2,600. Deep collection containers (0.6–8 m3) cost EUR 1,390–2,860. The default value of a waste container’s washing cost was €18 for a surface container and €120 (incl. VAT) for a deep collection container. (KIVO, 2020b) Eco charges collected separately from households in some areas are used to cover the costs of recyclable waste services, waste guidance and free-of-charge collection of hazardous waste, among other things. An eco charge is in use in 79% of the municipalities located within the operating areas of KIVO’s member companies. For detached house properties, the average eco charge, including valueadded tax, was €30.04/year in 2019. (Table 9; KIVO, 2020b) Table 9. Annual costs of eco charges per property type (incl. VAT). (KIVO, 2020b) Property type Apartment building Terraced house Detached house Detached house with composting
€/dwelling/year 23.47 26.88 31.96 28.08
€/occupant/year 12.52 13.44 10.65 9.36
Waste reception prices of municipal waste types Table 10 shows the average reception prices charged by waste centres for different waste types. The prices in question are charged when the waste holder delivers large amounts of the waste in question to a waste centre with a truck, for example, and the waste is weighed.
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31
Table 10. Reception prices (incl. additional weighing fee), additional weighing fees, weighing charges and load weights per waste type (VAT 0%). (KIVO, 2020b) Waste type Mixed waste Biowaste Energy waste Raking and brushwood waste Sand interceptor waste Grease interceptor waste
Reception price (€/t) 146.32 95.35 103.80 23.72 72.89 98.00
Additional weighing fee (€/t) 2.47 2.42 5.10 4.48 2.38 2.30
Weighing charge (€/load) 9.47 9.07 11.22 6.57 10.00 9.59
Load weight (t/load) 4.60 4.05 2.28 1.42 4.41 4.34
Total annual costs The total annual costs of property waste management (Table 11) are formed from the costs of the waste types collected (purchasing costs of collection containers, collection fees, washing of containers) as well as a separate eco charge in some areas. For detached houses, the calculation also includes waste station charges and fees, such as charges for taking mixed waste to a waste station. In 2019, the service fee at waste centres was €21.24 (incl. VAT) on average. (KIVO, 2020b) Table 11. Average annual total costs per property type (incl. VAT). (KIVO, 2020b) Property type Apartment building Terraced house Detached house Detached house with composting
€/dwelling/year 112.39 165.71 256.44 190.13
€/occupant/year 59.94 82.85 85.48 63.38
In dispersed settlements, the waste management company can arrange an opportunity for properties to join the regional collection system for mixed waste. In this case, the charge collected for permanent dwellings is often based on the number of occupants, and the charge for both permanent dwellings and holiday homes may also be affected by whether or not the dwelling has composting at home (Table 12). The average charge for regional collection is approximately €110 per year for a permanent dwelling housing one occupant and a little less than €140 if there are three occupants. The average charge for a holiday home is a little over €70. (KIVO, 2020b Table 12. Annual charges for regional collection of mixed waste per dwelling (incl. VAT) (KIVO, 2020b) Property Permanent dwelling, one occupant Permanent dwelling, three occupants Holiday home Holiday home (with composting)
€/dwelling/year (incl. VAT) 112.73 138.43 72.59 70.09
Summary of property waste management charges according to KIVO Since 2009, KIVO has been gathering information on the overall costs of property waste management per property type in a comparable manner. According to this information, the cost level has decreased in apartment buildings and terraced houses in the last five years, whereas there has been minor variation for detached houses. (KIVO, 2020b) Calculated per occupant, waste management is still the most affordable in apartment building properties, even though these properties collect the highest number of waste types. The price can partly be explained by the larger number of occupants per on-property waste collection point and the collection efficiency. When calculated per occupant, waste management is the most expensive in detached houses
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Municipal waste management in Finland
that do not have a composting bin for biowaste on the property. If the detached house property composts its own biowaste, it reduces the waste management costs close to the cost level per occupant for an apartment building apartment. (KIVO, 2020b)
Waste management costs in relation to other property costs Since 2001, the Finnish Real Estate Federation has been carrying out annual comparisons of the property taxes on a standardised building, also known as an “index building”, as well as comparisons of other municipality-specific costs in the largest cities in Finland based on current prices and grounds for payment. The Finnish Real Estate Federation is an expert in real estate and a leading influencer that represents the interests of property owners. The federation’s members include real estate companies, limited liability housing companies, owners of residential rental properties and lessors. (Finnish Real Estate Federation, 2020) An index building is a 10,000-cubic-metre apartment building containing 40 apartments and located on its own plot within a city centre’s grid plan. The building’s energy and water consumption, as well as the numbers and collection frequencies of waste containers, are averages. https://www.kiinteistoliitto.fi/palvelut/tutkimus/saannolliset/ According to the Finnish Real Estate Federation, in 2022 the waste management costs in the municipalities selected for the report were €0.14–0.29 per square metre per month. The average cost of waste management is €0.18 per square metre per month, which accounted for 6.4% of the total cost of waste management, district heat, real estate electricity, property taxes on buildings and plots as well as water and wastewater charges. (Finnish Real Estate Federation, 2023)
9.4 Examples of the fees of waste covered by producer responsibility Founded in 1997, Finnish Packaging Recycling RINKI Ltd is a non-profit service company owned by Finnish industry and trade. Rinki provides companies with efficient and sustainable solutions for fulfilling their producer responsibility for packaging. For consumers, Rinki provides the network of Rinki eco take-back points, which collect packaging and recycle glass packaging waste. Over 4,600 companies have signed an agreement with Rinki. (Rinki, 2023a) In Finland, recycling packaging is the responsibility of all the companies that import packaged products to Finland or package products in Finland. The companies in question have producer responsibility, meaning that they must collect the packaging released with products on the Finnish market, put it back into circulation and recycle the materials in accordance with the objectives defined in legislation. Producer responsibility is based on EU and Finnish legislation and accordingly, producers will have 100% cost responsibility for the costs of separate collection of packaging. (Rinki, 2023a) Consumers can bring used glass, metal, paperboard and plastic packaging to these eco take-back points. From the eco take-back points, the packaging is transported, possibly via temporary storage, to places such as processing plants, where the material is recycled, i.e. processed into raw material, packaging or new products in a way that saves energy and the environment. This free-of-charge service intended for consumers is provided by Finnish industry and trade, i.e. companies. The invoicing of a company’s recycling fees is based on the amount of packaging used by the company the previous year as well as the material-specific price list. (Rinki, 2023b) The network of Rinki eco take-back points included over 1,700 collection points for paperboard, glass and metal packaging and more than 1,000 collection points for plastic packaging all around Finland. Finnish Packaging Recycling RINKI Ltd is in charge of maintaining the network. The locations of the Rinki eco take-back points can be found in the Kierrätys.info online service. (Rinki, 2023c) In addition to being collected by Rinki eco take-back points, packaging waste covered by producer
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responsibility will be collected on properties. A more detailed description of this is presented in chapter 11, which provides an example of the organisation of waste collection in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area. Table 13 shows the material-specific packaging recycling fees of producer corporations in the pack-aging industry for 2022 and 2023, while Table 14 shows Rinki’s registration and customer fees for 2022 and 2023. (Rinki, 2022a) Table 13. Material-specific packaging recycling fees of producer corporations in the packaging industry for 2022 and 2023. (Rinki, 2022a) Material group
Material
Paper fibres
Recycling fee* 2022 €/tonne 11 11 17 17 73 143 182 68 120 26 120 26 120 26 98 (no deposit) 1.95 2.60
2023 €/tonne 17 17 21 21 86 201 215-480 (depends on material) 64-390 (depends on material) 96 26 96 26 96 26 98-118 (depends on class) 1.95 2.60
Corrugated cardboard for consumers** Corrugated cardboard for companies*** Industrial wraps and sacks Industrial cores Paperboard and paper packaging Liquid cartons Plastic Plastic packaging for consumers** Plastic packaging for companies*** Metals Aluminium packaging for consumers** Aluminium packaging for companies*** Tinplate packaging for consumers** Tinplate packaging for companies*** Steel packaging for consumers** Steel packaging for companies*** Glass Glass packaging (without container deposits) Wood FIN, EUR and EPAL pallets, rental pallets, cable reels Other wood pallets and other wood packaging *) Value-added tax is added to the fees. **) The packaging in which consumer products are sold and some of the grouped and transport packaging (which can or will end up in consumers’ possession or in households as product packaging) are classified as “packaging for consumers”. ***) Product packaging that ends up in companies’ possession along with the products is classified as “Packaging for companies”.
The invoicing of customer fees (€/tonne) is based on the amounts of packaging used by the company the previous year and the price list, and there is an annual minimum and maximum limit for the fees (€/year/agreement). (Rinki, 2022a) Table 14. Rinki registration and customer fees for 2022 and 2023. (Rinki, 2022a) Fee
Amount of the fee* 2022 Customer fee 1.6 Customer fee, minimum 265 Customer fee, maximum 4,500 Registration fee 0 *) Value-added tax is added to the fees.
2023 1.6 265 4,500 0
Unit €/tonne €/year/agreement €/year/agreement €/company
In accordance with the terms of agreement, customer companies must report to RINKI Ltd annually on the amounts of packaging and the packaging materials which the company has imported to Finland with its products or which the company has used to package the products it has released on the market. The reports on packaging directly affect the system’s financing, invoicing and operations. (Rinki, 2022a)
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Municipal waste management in Finland
Accumulators and batteries are covered by producer responsibility, which is why their waste management and costs are taken care of by companies that import accumulators and batteries to Finland either as separate products or inside equipment or vehicles. (Tukes, 2021) Some containers of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are subject to beverage container tax (€0.51/litre). However, the tax is not charged if the importer or manufacturer of the beverages joins an operating deposit-return system or organises such a system themselves. The majority of beverage importers and manufacturers have joined deposit-return systems managed by Suomen Palautuspakkaus Oy, i.e. PALPA. Manufacturers and importers pay a membership fee for belonging to a deposit-return system, in addition to package-specific recycling fees that are used to cover the costs of the deposit-return systems. The recycling costs are incurred from the compensation paid to PALPA’s return points, the transport of containers at different stages of the recycling chain, and the treatment of the material itself, among other things. The reprocessor pays PALPA for the price of the material. PALPA is a nonprofit organisation. (PALPA, 2021)
9.5 B2B packaging and waste management in properties Rinki collects household packaging waste at Rinki eco take-back points; Business-to-business (B2B) packaging must not be taken to these points. Rinki does not collect packaging waste from properties. Companies must arrange waste management for their own properties, i.e. companies are responsible for sorting the packaging waste left on their own property and transporting it from the property. Transport must be agreed upon with a waste transport company, and the fee charged for the transport service is a separate cost to the company. (Rinki, 2022b) Rinki’s recycling fees cover the recycling and collection of packaging released by companies on the Finnish market. The fees do not include the collection of packaging waste from company property. The recycling fees charged by Rinki are used to cover the costs of the network of terminals formed for receiving packaging waste from companies free of charge, the transport of the material from terminals to a treatment plant as well as the recycling of the material into a new product or raw material for a new product. (Rinki, 2022b) The producer corporations responsible for metal, plastic, fibre and wood packaging provide information on sorting instructions for B2B packaging as well as their own reception terminals. The same sorting instructions for glass packaging apply to both households and companies. Suomen Keräyslasiyhdistys ry has authorised Rinki to organise reception terminals for glass packaging waste. (Rinki, 2022b)
9.6 Financial figures of waste management companies A clear summary of the use of waste charges by waste management companies is not easily available. Another challenge is that waste transport is organised by property holders for some waste companies, while for others this is not the case, which can make it challenging to obtain summarised information. Because of this, this report has collected general information about the matter from KIVO and some waste companies. According to information provided by KIVO (2020c), the use of the accumulation of basic charges and/or eco charges is usually roughly divided as follows: free-of-charge waste station service (48%), waste management committees and development of waste management (12%), waste guidance (12%), collection of recycled waste (eco take-back points) to supplement the network of packaging producers (11%), management of hazardous waste (10%) and other usage (7%).
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Salpakierto Oy Salpakierto Oy (formerly Päijät-Häme Waste Management Ltd (PHJ)) is a limited liability company owned by ten municipalities that was founded in 1993. It takes care of the service function related to organising municipal waste management in the area of its owner municipalities in accordance with the Waste Act. The company’s duties include the reception, treatment and recovery of waste, provision of waste guidance, and the planning and development of waste management. There are more than 200,000 people living and approximately 13,000 companies operating in the company’s operating area. Waste transport in the area is primarily organised by property holders. (Salpakierto, 2021a) In 2019, Salpakierto Oy’s turnover was €18.4 million. Waste reception functions accounted for €11.6 million of this amount, while the turnover from services and sales was €6.8 million. No more than 10% of the company’s turnover may originate from sources other than statutory activity in accordance with the Act on Public Procurement and Concession Contracts and the Waste Act. In 2019, the revenue from other activity was approximately 7.3% of all revenue. The municipal waste charge must cover the costs incurred by both the municipality and the company owned by the municipality from organising statutory waste management. (Salpakierto, 2021b) The distribution of turnover in 2019 was as follows: treatment fees 63%, eco charges 16%, other sales of services 10%, sales of waste, gas and electricity 7%, transport services 2% and weighing fees 2%. The operating expenses were distributed as follows: external services 54%, labor costs 15%, other operating expenses 15%, depreciations 12%, substances and supplies 3% and waste tax 1%. (Salpakierto, 2021b) In 2019, the accumulations of waste charges, weighing fees, transport fees, pallet service fees and administrative service fees totalled €10.6 million, of which 92% originated from waste charges. Of this accumulation, 83% is spent on treating and transporting waste. The return from eco charge services (eco charge, charges for small quantities of waste, sale for energy and material recovery, others) was €4.3 million in total in 2019, of which the accumulation of eco charges accounted for 67%. The costs of eco charge services totalled €4.5 million, of which 64% was spent on waste station services. (Salpakierto, 2021b)
Pirkanmaan Jätehuolto Pirkanmaan Jätehuolto provides statutory waste management services to 17 municipalities and 447,000 residents – primarily residents, housing companies and municipalities. (Pirkanmaan Jätehuolto, 2021a) The spending of the waste charges collected by Pirkanmaan Jätehuolto was divided as follows in 2019: transport and collection 33%, waste treatment 32%, value-added tax 19%, proportion accounted for by basic charges 11%, profit 4% and waste tax 1%. The proportion accounted for by basic charges was spent as follows: waste stations and regional waste collection points 28%, provision of information and guidance 25%, biowaste support 20%, hazardous household waste 20% and waste management committee 7%. (Pirkanmaan Jätehuolto, 2021b) According to Pirkanmaan Jätehuolto, the price of emptying a waste container in its operating area comprises transport and collection (43%), waste treatment (23%), value-added tax (19%) and the basic charge (15%). The basic charge is used to cover several statutory obligations. (Pirkanmaan Jätehuolto, 2021c)
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Municipal waste management in Finland
10 Organising waste management for residents and businesses 10.1 Municipal waste generated by municipal administrative and service activities In the Waste Act, municipal administrative and service activities refer to municipal activities that include activities of the municipality and local authority corporation, as well as the municipality’s participation in joint activities between municipalities (e.g. joint local authorities), among other things. Joint organisations owned by municipalities are also regarded as municipal activities. Municipal administrative and service activities also cover municipal waste generated by the municipality’s educational activities. Instead, municipal waste generated by the social and health care services and rescue services will be transferred from municipalities to the obligations of wellbeing services counties from the beginning of 2026 at the latest. However, wellbeing services counties may take care of municipal waste management earlier by notifying about it for 6 months in advance. The municipal waste management company organises the management of municipal waste generated by municipal properties such as schools, daycare centres, government agency buildings, storage facilities and libraries. The responsibility for organising municipal waste management services for the municipality’s group entities (excluding group entities that operate on market terms) falls to the municipal waste management company. (Ministry of the Environment, 2022b) Below is a list of functions included in municipal administrative and service activities for which municipalities are responsible for organising municipal waste management (Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities, 2019):
Education and culture: Educational services • municipal daycare centres and open early childhood education and care activities of municipalities; municipal general upper secondary schools; vocational institutes and adult education centres wholly or mainly owned by the municipality or municipalities. Art and cultural services • music schools wholly or mainly owned by the municipality or joint municipal authority; theatre or orchestra; museums; municipal public library; and municipal youth facilities and workshop service facilities.
Sports services: •
municipal swimming halls, ball game halls, ice halls and outdoor sports facilities.
Social and health care services (only until the end of 2025): Social welfare • social and health care services provided at agencies (child and family guidance) or in the homes of private individuals (home services); community care housing services in social welfare services; institutional care by social services; municipal nursing homes, children’s institutions, reform schools and children’s homes wholly or mainly owned by the municipality; institutional
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care in special care for people with intellectual disabilities, substance abuse rehabilitation centres and professional family homes of the municipality. Health care (medical care and rehabilitation) • municipal health centres and health stations; hospitals of the municipality and joint municipal authorities (hospital districts); municipal dental care units; prehospital care units of rescue services; municipal environmental health care units (joint municipal authorities); psychiatric hospital and some of the laboratories of the municipality or joint municipal authority.
Public utilities and business services: •
fire or rescue stations of regional rescue services (only until the end of 2025); properties and premises managed by the municipal premises centre; municipal waste from the properties of the municipal water utility; sanitation of public areas (e.g. parks); ports maintained by the municipality; district heat companies mainly owned by the municipality or municipalities; premises of the municipal waste management company or joint municipal waste management company; premises of joint municipal authorities for public transport; municipal business services and development corporations owned by municipalities.
10.2 Waste management of companies and organisations As a general rule, waste generated by business activity is excluded from municipal waste management. Generally, stores, private service activities, companies, and industrial and production plants take care of their own waste management and purchase services from suitable service providers. However, municipalities are responsible for waste generated by brick and mortar businesses, i.e. waste (excluding hazardous waste) generated in business premises located on residential properties that corresponds to household waste in terms of its composition, properties and quantity and is disposed of in a collection point located on the property. (Yrittäjät, 2020) According to the Waste Act, organising waste management for business activity is excluded from the scope of application of waste management regulations. Waste management regulations apply to waste from business activity if the waste is treated in the municipality’s waste management system or if it is to prevent the waste and waste management from posing a hazard and harm. The order of priority (reducing the amount of waste; reuse, recycling and other recovery of waste) laid down in the Waste Act also applies to business activity. (Waste Act, 2011; Government Decree on Waste, 2021) A company can request waste management services from the municipality or municipal waste management company if the company cannot get waste management services from companies that offer them. According to law, the municipality must organise waste management for the company if requested by the company due to the lack of services available to it and if the waste is suited for being transported and treated in the municipal waste management system (supplementary municipal waste management service). (Yrittäjät, 2020) Pursuant to the Waste Act, waste collection and transport services are also available to companies and organisations. Municipal waste generated by municipalities’ administrative and service functions and business premises are taken care of when the waste management services are shared with a residential property (such as a pipe collection system, brick and mortar stores). For example, Helsinki Region Environmental Services HSY offers waste collection and transport services to companies that have submitted a TSV (supplementary waste management service) request to HSY through the Materiaalitori.fi platform or signed a TSV agreement with HSY. (HSY, 2020f) The service is provided by the Ministry of the Environment and administered by Motiva Ltd. Materiaalitori is intended for professional exchange of the waste and production side streams generated by companies and organisations. Through
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Municipal waste management in Finland
Materiaalitori, it is also possible to search for and offer services related to them, such as waste management and expert services. Use of Materiaalitori is free of charge and open to operators in the industry. As of 2020, waste holders are obligated to search for a market-based waste management service through Materiaalitori before they are allowed to request the service from the municipality due to the lack of the service on the market. The lack of a market-based service is a requirement for the supplementary municipal waste management service. Waste holders must submit a notification of their need for a waste management service to Materiaalitori, and if they cannot find a market-based service within 14 days of the notification, they can request the supplementary service from the municipal waste management company (Materiaalitori, 2020). In companies and similar organisations, the obligation to organise management of hazardous waste primarily falls to the waste holder. The company’s management must be aware of the substances used by the company, as well as their hazardous nature, and the company is also obligated to train its staff and acquire appropriate personal protective equipment. Hazardous waste may never be without an owner, i.e. when the waste is transferred to a collector, the responsibility for the waste and for being aware of the waste is also transferred to the collector. (Yrittäjät, 2020) A charge is collected from companies, institutions and similar organisations for hazardous waste in accordance with the price list. (HSY, 2020d)
10.3 Organisation of waste management in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area as an example This report uses the waste management system in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area as an example, as it serves a wide area and user base. However, it must be noted that there are differences in the organisation of waste management between different parts of Finland. The operator in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area is Helsinki Region Environmental Services HSY, which provides municipal waste management and water supply services as well as information about the Helsinki Metropolitan Area and the environment. HSY’s member cities are Helsinki, Espoo, Kauniainen and Vantaa. HSY organises waste management for both residential properties and the public administration in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area and municipality of Kirkkonummi. The description of waste management in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area is based on the waste management regulations for the Helsinki Metropolitan Area and Kirkkonummi and other information provided by HSY on their waste management services, such as Sortti Stations. In accordance with the Waste Act, HSY’s waste management duties in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area and Kirkkonummi include (HSY, 2021): • providing and organising waste management services • being in charge of the management of municipal waste generated by the municipalities’ administrative and service activities • being responsible for the collection, transport and recovery of waste and its final disposal in a landfill as well as taking care of landfill aftercare • being responsible for waste guidance • serving as the waste management authority (waste management regulations, tariffs, etc.) in its operating area. HSY is not responsible for waste covered by producer responsibility, but it cooperates continuously with producer corporations. HSY has an agreement with producer corporations regarding the reception of waste such as EEE, batteries, accumulators and paper at Sortti Stations. If the waste management responsibility does not fall to the municipality or producer, the waste holder is personally responsible for organising waste management. HSY can also offer waste management services to companies and other waste holders if reasonable waste management services are otherwise unavailable. (HSY, 2021)
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The waste management regulations of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area and Kirkkonummi apply to all residents of the cities that have joined HSY’s waste management system, namely Helsinki, Espoo, Kauniainen, Vantaa and Kirkkonummi, as well as other operators covered by the waste management services organised by HSY. The waste management regulations provide instructions on waste types collected separately as well as information on requirements for waste collection points, waste containers, waste transport and waste collection. The waste management regulations are also applied to the collection of waste covered by producer responsibility that is generated on properties within HSY’s waste management system, as well as the delivery of such waste to further treatment. The regulations are also applied to properties that have joined HSY’s waste management system based on the municipality’s supplementary obligation to organise waste management. The waste management regulations in question apply to waste generated by business activity that is excluded from HSY’s obligation to organise waste management in so far as it is necessary to comply with the requirements of waste legislation and prevent hazards and harm posed by waste and waste management. (HSY, 2020b, 2022b) Property refers to a ground area and the buildings occupying it, while property holder refers to the owner or lessee of the property. Property-specific waste transport refers to property-specific waste transport organised by HSY, in which waste is picked up from the waste collection point on the property. Every property covered by the municipality’s responsibility to organise waste management is obligated to join property-specific waste transport under the Waste Act. (HSY, 2022b) Waste covered by the municipality’s responsibility to organise waste management refers to waste (including sludge) generated in dwellings, municipal waste generated by municipal administrative and service activities, and municipal waste that is generated in business premises and collected together with waste generated in dwellings. Municipal waste refers to waste generated in permanent dwellings, holiday homes, residential homes and other forms of housing, including sludge in cesspools and septic tanks, as well as comparable waste generated by administrative, service and business activities. (HSY, 2022b) A property joins the waste management system organised by HSY when the property holder forms a client relationship with HSY for their property and arranges a waste collection point on the property, equipped with waste collection containers that comply with the waste management regulations. Joining HSY’s waste management system means handing the waste over to property-specific waste transport organised by HSY, in which HSY collects the waste covered by its responsibility to organise waste management from the collection point on the property holder’s property and transports it to appropriate further treatment. The property holder or another waste holder must dispose of the waste in a waste collection point they have organised for property-specific waste transport. Alternatively, properties can acquire a shard waste collection container together with the neighbouring properties or a road maintenance association. Property holders agree upon the matter by mutual agreement. (HSY, 2022b)
10.4 Waste management regulations for the Helsinki Metropolitan Area – abridged and edited The new waste management regulations of the Helsinki Region Environmental Services (HSY, 2022b) replace the previous ones (HSY, 2020b) and are valid from 1.11.2022, with the exception of separately announced transition periods for the new sorting obligations for biowaste. According to the latest waste management regulations, biowaste must be sorted in residential properties of all sizes, which means that the sorting of biowaste will be extended to the properties with 1-4 apartments, but not to the holiday homes. The changes concerning the collection of biowaste will enter into force in a staggered manner in different regions. An alternative to separate collection of biowaste is self-composting. (HSY, 2022b)
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Municipal waste management in Finland
Collection of waste on properties Waste types sorted separately The municipal waste generated on properties belonging to the waste management system organised by Helsinki Region Environmental Services HSY must be sorted so that recyclable waste is collected separately. The waste holder is responsible for sorting the waste. Separately collected waste must be disposed of in a property-specific waste collection container intended for the waste type in question (arranged in accordance with waste management regulations) or, alternatively, taken to waste reception points arranged by producers. (HSY, 2022b) The property holder must provide the residents and other users of the property with information on their obligation to sort their waste and current waste sorting instructions. HSY takes care of propertyspecific transport of mixed waste, biowaste and sludge from cesspools and septic tanks that is generated in dwellings and by other operators under HSY’s responsibility, in addition to packaging waste collected separately on the property. (HSY, 2022b) Mixed waste Properties covered by property-specific waste transport organised by HSY must have a mixed waste container for the disposal of all other waste aside from waste sorted and collected separately for recycling. (HSY, 2022b) Waste sorting and separate collection obligations Mixed waste must be sorted so that all waste suitable for recycling is disposed of in their own collection containers in accordance with the applicable instructions: (Tables 15–16; HSY, 2022b) • biowaste • on all residential properties. The obligation to join property-specific transport does not apply to garden waste or properties where the generated biowaste is composted • if at least 10 kilograms of biowaste is generated on a property other than a residential property per week • paperboard packaging and cardboard • if the residential property has a minimum of five apartments • if at least 5 kilograms of paperboard packaging or cardboard is discarded on a property other than a residential property per week • glass packaging • if the residential property has a minimum of five apartments • if at least 2 kilograms of glass packaging is discarded on a property other than a residential property per week • metal packaging and small metal objects • if the residential property has a minimum of five apartments • if at least 2 kilograms of small metal objects is discarded on a property other than a residential property per week • plastic packaging • if the residential property has a minimum of five apartments • if at least 5 kilograms of plastic packaging is discarded on a property other than a residential property per week.
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Table 15. Waste types collected separately in the HSY area. (HSY, 2022b) Number of apartments per property 1–4 apartments
Mixed waste
Biowaste
x
x
5 or more
x
x
Paperboard packaging, cardboard
Small metal objects
x
x
Glass packaging
x
Plastic packaging
x
Paper as stipulated by sections 49 and 50 of the Waste Act as stipulated by sections 49 and 50 of the Waste Act
If the biowaste generated is composted on the property itself, the obligation to collect biowaste separately does not apply to the property in question. Even if the separate collection obligations mentioned above do not apply to the property, it can sign an agreement with HSY regarding property-specific transport of separately collected packaging waste. (HSY, 2022b). Table 16 shows a more detailed breakdown of the separate collection obligations for residential properties and other properties. Major and clear changes were made to the obligations starting from 1 November 2022. The new separate collection obligations laid down for biowaste, paperboard, glass and plastic packaging, as well as small metal objects, in section 13 of the waste management regulations came into force on 1 November 2022. (HSY, 2022b) The waste management regulations issued about separate collection obligations on 1 January 2021 were followed (HSY, 2020b) until the new separate collection obligations came into force. Table 16. Starting from 1 November 2022, the sorting obligations for biowaste, small metal objects and plastic, glass and paperboard packaging were tightened, in accordance with the new waste management regulations. (HSY, 2020b, 2022b)
Waste type Mixed waste Biowaste Paperboard packaging and cardboard Glass packaging Small metal objects Plastic packaging Paper
Collected on properties until the end of October 2022 Residential property always 5 apartments 5 apartments 5 apartments 5 apartments 5 apartments in accordance with the Waste Act
Other property always 25 kg/week 25 kg/week
Collected on properties as of 1 November 2022 Residential property always always 1 apartment
Other property always 10 kg/week 5 kg/week
25 kg/week 25 kg/week 15 kg/week in accordance with the Waste Act
5 apartments 5 apartments 5 apartments in accordance with the Waste Act
2 kg/week 2 kg/week 5 kg/week in accordance with the Waste Act
For a justified reason, the property or waste holder may apply for an exemption from complying with the waste management regulations. (HSY, 2022b)
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Municipal waste management in Finland
Joining separate collection Even if the separate collection obligation does not apply to the property, it can sign an agreement with HSY regarding property-specific transport of separately collected packaging waste. (HSY, 2022b). Producer responsibility is followed with regard to packaging waste. In addition to regional collection, the packaging industry can organise property-specific transport of packaging waste from properties, or if the packaging industry does not collect separately collected packaging waste from properties, the municipality can organise its transport. If even the municipality will not take care of transporting the waste in question, the property holder can order the transport from a private entrepreneur based on an agreement. Packaging waste must always be delivered to the producer. (Yrittäjät, 2020) Other separately collected waste Waste covered by producer responsibility (e.g. batteries, accumulators and WEEE) must be collected separately and taken to a reception point organised by the producer. Returnable beverage containers must be returned to their return points. Hazardous waste and special waste must be collected separately and taken for treatment in accordance with the waste management regulations. (HSY, 2022b) Sticks, branches and garden waste generated on residential properties must primarily be delivered to HSY’s Sortti Stations or another reception point designated by HSY if the waste is not treated on the property itself. Construction and demolition waste generated on residential properties must be sorted in accordance with the Government Decree on Waste. If the holder of the residential property personally takes care of the management of construction and demolition waste, the sorted waste in question must primarily be delivered to HSY’s Sortti Stations or another reception point designated by HSY. (HSY, 2022b)
Municipal waste management in Finland
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Management of hazardous waste Hazardous waste must be collected separately based on its type, stored appropriately and kept separate from each other and other waste. Hazardous waste must be packaged in its original packaging if it is possible and safe to do so. Hazardous waste must be delivered to its reception points at least once a year. (HSY, 2022b) Hazardous waste generated by companies must be marked and packaged, and necessary information about it must be provided in all phases of the waste management process so that the properties and transfers of the waste can be monitored from the source until the waste’s recovery and final treatment. (HSY, 2022b) Hazardous waste generated by households must be delivered free of charge to collection points arranged by HSY, while hazardous waste covered by producer responsibility (e.g. WEEE; batteries and accumulators) can also be delivered to reception points arranged by producers. Household pharmaceutical waste, needles and syringes must be delivered to pharmacies. Hazardous waste generated in places other than households and businesses must be delivered to a consignee entitled to receive it. (HSY, 2022b) Household hazardous waste includes: • energy-saving lamps and other fluorescent tubes • batteries • medications, needles and syringes • accumulators • waste oil, oil filters and other oily equipment • solvents such as turpentine, paint thinner, acetone, petrol, fuel oil and solvent-based detergents • wet paint, adhesives and varnishes • water used to wash painting tools • pressurised containers, such as aerosol cans (sloshes around or fizzles) • pressure impregnated wood (reception subject to a charge) • wood preservatives and impregnating agents • asbestos (reception subject to a charge) • alkaline detergents and washing agents • pesticides and disinfectants • strong acids such as sulphuric acid • fire extinguishers and gas bottles • New Year’s tin (the EU forbids the sale of tin in consumer products as of 1 March 2018) • thermometers containing mercury. Special waste Special waste must be kept separate and packaged in sturdy, securely closed containers, and the type and potential harm of the waste and measures resulting from it must be marked on the container. Special waste refers to waste that requires special measures to be taken during treatment or transport, such as covering the waste immediately at a landfill. Special waste does not refer to hazardous waste. Examples of special waste include human waste or biological waste (special health care waste). (HSY, 2020b) Waste charges Property waste charges comprise the collection fees for emptying waste collection containers and the container rent if you want to rent a container. You can also purchase one yourself. Waste collection fees are affected by the collection frequency, which depends on the waste type and number of waste collection containers. The price of emptying a deep collection container is based on weighing, i.e. a charge is
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Municipal waste management in Finland
collected according to the actual amount of waste. Emptying of waste collection containers for recyclable waste is more affordable for properties. (HSY, 2020c) HSY accepts hazardous waste generated in households free of charge. From companies, institutions and similar organisations, HSY collects a charge in accordance with the price list. (HSY, 2020d) Using a shared waste collection container The holders of adjacent properties or parties such as members of a road maintenance association can use a shared waste collection container(s) and location for one or more waste types based on mutual contract (joint use). All property holders who use the shared collection container must be parties to the joint use contract. HSY may deny the joint use for a justified reason. (HSY, 2022b) A joint use contract must have a main contracting party who is obligated to split the waste bill between the other users. The main contracting party serves as the contact person in matters regarding the emptying of containers and maintains the contact information of the waste container’s users, i.e. the parties to the contract. If the waste container is placed outside the property’s boundaries, an agreement must be reached with the landowner. The landowner must always be party to the contract, even if they do not use the shared waste container at all. Holders of holiday homes may also agree upon the use of a shared waste container with a road maintenance association, their closest neighbours or another association. (HSY, 2020g) HSY’s regional mixed waste collection point In the case of properties that cannot be accessed by a waste collection vehicle, holders of holiday homes and properties inhabited around the year can apply to become users of HSY’s regional mixed waste point by submitting an application to HSY. HSY’s regional mixed waste collection point is only intended for daily mixed waste generated by households and no other waste fractions. Users of the mixed waste collection point personally deliver their appropriately sorted and packaged mixed waste to the collection point. (HSY, 2022b) Regional waste reception points Examples of regional waste reception points include eco take-back points, i.e. collection points maintained by producer corporations for packaging waste, paper product reception points maintained by producer corporations for paper as well as regional reception points maintained for products delivered for reuse. Regional waste collection points only accept waste for which they have a collection container, and leaving waste outside the container is forbidden. (HSY, 2022b) General regulations concerning waste transport The waste carrier must ensure that the waste is prevented from spreading into the environment during transport. Separately collected waste types of different natures must be kept separate during transport. The consignor, carrier and consignee of waste must be aware of their obligation to prepare a shipping document on sludge in cesspools and septic tanks, sludge in sand and grease interceptors, hazardous waste, contaminated soil and other construction and demolition waste. If the waste is picked up from a household, the waste carrier must prepare a shipping document and make sure that it is kept safe and delivered to the consignee. (HSY, 2022b) Provision of information on waste Property holders are obligated to provide current information on waste sorting instructions and inform the occupants of their obligation to sort their waste. The content of these communications must not contradict HSY’s instructions and regulations. (HSY, 2022b)
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Sortti Stations Sortti Stations are places where you can take waste that is unsuited or too large for the property’s own waste containers. Hazardous waste can also be taken to designated collection containers (approximately 40 around the Helsinki Metropolitan Area). Collection vehicles make annual tours, collecting scrap metal, EEE and hazardous waste. There is a reception point in Ämmässuo, Espoo, for very large amounts of waste, such as a truck load. (HSY, 2020f) Sortti Stations do not collect a charge for separately sorted paperboard and cardboard; glass packaging (bottles and jars); metal; paper; electrical and electronic equipment or household hazardous waste. (HSY, 2022a) Sortti Stations accept waste that is subject to a charge (incl. VAT 24%). Table 17 lists the prices for waste accepted by Sortti Stations. Customers are charged for individual objects (e.g. armchair, mattress with legs, or couch) based on volume. (HSY, 2022a) Table 17. Sortti Stations’ waste reception prices in 2022 (incl. VAT). (HSY, 2022a) Waste type Coated wood - painted and varnished wood, other treated wood - chipboard, doors, cabinets, fitments - nails and small fittings can be left in. Wood pallets - clean wood - untreated boards - plywood boards and laminated veneer lumber - nails and small fittings can be left in. Plastic - plastic items - plastic film, not film that contains fibres - no polystyrene foam - no PVC End-of-life textiles -end-of-life household clothes and textiles -packed in the plastic bags Combustible mixed waste - chairs, couches, spring mattresses - no metal items - sort large and small mixed waste onto separate pallets Gypsum - clean, dry gypsum boards - not in sacks - no slabs, board structures or metal Pressure impregnated wood Insulation wool - Sort rock and glass wool into non-combustible waste at Sortti Stations. - Sort blown wool onto the pallet for combustible mixed waste
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Municipal waste management in Finland
m3/1,000 l €10.00
200 l (e.g. refuse sack) €2.00
€10.00
€2.00
€10.00
€2.00
€10.00
€2.00
€26.50
€5.30
€26.50
€5.30
€26.50 €26.50
€5.30 €5.30
Waste type Non-combustible waste - porcelain toilet seats, washbasins - porcelain and glass tableware - window glass, mirrors - gypsum board containing impurities - no metal items Aggregate - asphalt, concrete, stones, bricks, tiles - earth materials, soil
m3/1,000 l €65.50
200 l (e.g. refuse sack) €13.10
50 l (e.g. box)
€65.50
€13.10
€3.28
Garden waste Apples, plums (biowaste generated in gardens) - Sort separately from other garden waste. Received only in autumn. Raking waste - leaves, grass, plant tops, chipped brushwood and other biodegradable garden waste - stumps, rootstalks - no soil - clean sawdust, wood shavings, peat Brushwood - branches, twigs, individual trees, hawthorn, tree trunks, roses Invasive alien species - packaged - sorted into mixed waste
€3.28
load €5.00 €5.00
€5.00 €5.00
Municipal waste management in Finland
47
Sources Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities, 2019. Jätelain 1. vaiheen muutos. Eräitä kunnan jätehuoltovastuun toteuttamiseen liittyviä tulkintoja [First stage of the amendment of the Waste Act. Some interpretations related to the implementation of municipalities’ waste management responsibility]. Memo. Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities, 2020. Waste management. https://www.kuntaliitto.fi/yhdyskunnat-ja-ymparisto/tekniikka/jatehuolto ELY Centre, 2022a. FAQ, Beverage packaging. https://www.ely-keskus.fi/web/tuottajavastuu/ukk#Beverage_packagingt ELY Centre, 2022b. Seller’s Obligations. https://www.ely-keskus.fi/web/tuottajavastuu/myyjan-velvollisuudet ELY Centre, 2022c. Näin hoidat tuottajavastuun. Tuottajayhteisön perustaminen. [How to handle Producer responsibility. Setting up a producer corporation]. https://www.ely-keskus.fi/web/tuottajavastuu/nain-hoidat-tuottajavastuun ELY Centre, 2022d. FAQ. Packaging. https://www.ely-keskus.fi/web/tuottajavastuu/ukk#Packaging ELY Centre, 2022e.FAQ. Paper. https://www.ely-keskus.fi/web/tuottajavastuu/ukk#paper_and_paper_products ELY Centre, 2022f. FAQ. Electrical and electronic equipment. https://www.ely-keskus.fi/web/tuottajavastuu/ukk#ELECTRICAL_AND_ELECTRONIC_EQUIPMENT ELY Centre, 2022g. Extended Producer Responsibility. https://www.ely-keskus.fi/web/tuottajavastuu/yritykselle ELY Centre, 2022h. Supervision of Producer Responsibility. https://www.ely-keskus.fi/web/tuottajavastuu/valvonta ELY Centre, 2023. Tuottajavastuu, pakkaukset [Producer responsibility, packagings] https://www.ely-keskus.fi/web/tuottajavastuu/kierr%C3%A4tystavoitteet-ja-tulokset-pakkaukset Finnish Real Estate Federation, 2020. Kiinteistöliitto – kotisi asialla [The Finnish Real Estate Federation – representative of your home’s interests]. Finnish Real Estate Federation. https://www.kiinteistoliitto.fi/kiinteistoliitto/ Finnish Real Estate Federation, 2023. Indeksitalon raportit [Index building reports]. Finnish Real Estate Federation. https://www.kiinteistoliitto.fi/palvelut/tutkimus/saannolliset/indeksitalonraportit/ Government Decree on Waste, 2021. https://finlex.fi/fi/laki/smur/2021/20210978 HSY, 2020a. Ämmässuon jätteenkäsittelykeskuksen toiminta vuonna 2019 [Operations of Ämmässuo Waste Treatment Centre in 2019]. Report. Helsinki Region Environmental Services HSY HSY, 2020b. Pääkaupunkiseudun ja Kirkkonummen jätehuoltomääräykset [Waste regulations for the Helsinki Metropolitan Area and Kirkkonummi]. Helsinki Region Environmental Services HSY. https://julkaisu.hsy.fi/paakaupunkiseudun-ja-kirkkonummen-jatehuoltomaaraykset.html#chbXIwd4JI HSY, 2020c. Waste services for properties. Helsinki Region Environmental Services HSY. https://www.hsy.fi/en/waste-and-recycling/waste-services-for-properties/ HSY, 2020d. Waste management service fees 2020. Hazardous waste. Helsinki Region Environmental Services HSY. https://julkaisu.hsy.fi/en/index/waste-management-service-fees-2020.html#c3VhaVOfxU HSY, 2020e. Waste management for companies. Helsinki Region Environmental Services HSY. https://www.hsy.fi/en/waste-and-recycling/waste-management-for-companies/ HSY, 2020f. Waste and recycling. Helsinki Region Environmental Services HSY. https://www.hsy.fi/en/waste-and-recycling/ HSY, 2020g. Joint use of waste containers. Helsinki Region Environmental Services HSY. https://www.hsy.fi/en/waste-and-recycling/joint-use-of-waste-containers/ HSY, 2021. Distribution of waste management responsibilities. Helsinki Region Environmental Services HSY. https://www.hsy.fi/en/waste-and-recycling/distribution-of-waste-management-responsibilities/ HSY, 2022a. Waste management service fees 2022. Sortti Stations. Helsinki Region Environmental Services HSY. https://julkaisu.hsy.fi/jatehuollon-hinnasto-2022-1.html#c8YaamdHim HSY, 2022b. Jätehuoltomääräykset. [Waste regulations] Helsinki Region Environmental Services HSY. https://www.hsy.fi/jatteet-ja-kierratys/jatehuoltomaaraykset/ KIVO, 2020a. Koostumustietopankki [Composition database]. Suomen Kiertovoima ry. https://kivo.fi/ymmarramme/koostumustietopankki/
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KIVO, 2020b. Tietoa kotitalouksien jätehuollosta 2019 Jätteiden keräys kotitalouksista ja jätelajien vastaanottohinnat [Information on household waste management in 2019 – waste collection from households and reception prices for waste types]. Suomen Kiertovoima ry. KIVO, 2020c. Personal communication. Materiaalitori, 2020. Jätteiden ja sivuvirtojen tietoalusta [Information platform on waste and side streams]. https://www.materiaalitori.fi/ Ministry of Finance, 2023. Ympäristöperusteinen verotus. [Environment based taxation] https://vm.fi/ymparistoperusteinen-verotus Ministry of the Environment, 2020. Jätesäädöspaketti [Waste package]. https://ym.fi/jatesaadospaketti Ministry of the Environment, 2021. Jätelain laaja uudistus voimaan 19. heinäkuuta. [The comprehensive reform of the Waste Act will enter into force on 19 July.] https://ym.fi/-/jatelain-laaja-uudistus-voimaan-19.-heinakuuta Ministry of the Environment, 2022a. National Waste Plan. https://ym.fi/en/national-waste-plan Ministry of the Environment, 2022b. Muutoksia kunnallisen jätehuollon toimijan sidosyksikkörajaan ja hyvinvointialueiden yhdyskuntajätteen jätehuollon järjestämiseen. [Changes to the bonding unit boundary of the municipal waste management operator and the organisation of municipal waste management in wellbeing services counties] https://ym.fi/-/muutoksia-kunnallisen-jatehuollon-toimijan-sidosyksikkorajaan-ja-hyvinvointialueiden-yhdyskuntajatteen-jatehuollon-jarjestamiseen PALPA, 2021. Deposit-based system. Suomen Palautuspakkaus Oy. https://www.palpa.fi/beverage-container-recycling/deposit-refund-system/ Pirkanmaan Jätehuolto, 2021a. Pirkanmaan Jätehuolto. https://pjhoy.fi/en/company/learn-more-about-the-company/ Pirkanmaan Jätehuolto, 2021b. Jätelain 79 § mukaiset tiedot jätemaksuista v. 2019 [Information pursuant to section 79 of the Waste Act on waste charges in 2019]. https://pjhoy.fi/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/pjh_2019_j%C3%A4temaksut_logo.pdf Pirkanmaan Jätehuolto, 2021c. Hintatilastoja [Price statistics]. https://pjhoy.fi/vuosikertomus/2019-2/tilastot/hinnat/ Rinki, 2022a. Join Rinki – take care of your responsibility / Price list. https://rinkiin.fi/en/for-companies/join-rinki/price-list/#76cfca29 Rinki, 2022b. B2B packaging and waste management from properties. https://rinkiin.fi/en/for-companies/b2b-packaging/ Rinki, 2023a. Finnish Packaging Recycling RINKI Ltd. https://rinkiin.fi/en/ Rinki, 2023b. Recycling of packaging in Finland. Finnish Packaging Recycling RINKI Ltd. https://rinkiin.fi/en/sorting-at-home/packaging-recycles/ Rinki, 2023c. Household packaging waste to Rinki eco take-back points. Finnish Packaging Recycling RINKI Ltd. https://rinkiin.fi/en/sorting-at-home/ecopoints/ Salpakierto, 2021a. Salpakierto. https://salpakierto.fi/in-english/ Salpakierto, 2021b. Vuosikatsaus 2019 [Annual review 2019]. https://salpakierto.fi/vuosikatsaus/2019-2/ Statistics Finland, 2021a. Concepts and definitions. http://www.stat.fi/til/jate/kas_en.html Statistics Finland, 2021b. Amount of municipal waste continued growing in 2020 – most of waste was still recovered as energy. https://www.stat.fi/til/jate/2020/13/jate_2020_13_2021-12-09_tie_001_en.html Statistics Finland, 2021c. Municipal waste 2020, tonnes. https://www.stat.fi/til/jate/2020/13/jate_2020_13_2021-1209_tau_001_en.html Statistics Finland, 2022a. Amount of municipal waste remained on level with the previous year in 2021 – an increasing share of waste was recovered as energy. https://www.stat.fi/julkaisu/cktwkksr43wo20b61h94063h3 ¨ Statistics Finland, 2022b. Waste statistics 2021 municipal waste, revised data. https://www.stat.fi/en/publication/cljr1li69rrfj0buic3m43oqa Tukes, 2021. Blog: Tiedätkö, miten akkujen kierrätys toimii? [Do you know how the recycling of batteries works?] Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency (Tukes). https://tukes.fi/-/blogi-tiedatko-miten-akkujen-kierratys-toimii-#081bbbed Waste Act 2011. Finlex. 17.6.2011/646 https://www.finlex.fi/fi/laki/ajantasa/2011/20110646
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Website of Finland’s environmental administration, 2023a. Jätehuollon järjestäminen ja jätemaksut. [Organization of waste management and waste payments.] https://www.ymparisto.fi/fi/kestava-kierto-ja-biotalous/kierratys-jajatteet/jatehuollon-jarjestaminen Website of Finland’s environmental administration, 2023b. Valtakunnallisen jätesuunnitelman seuranta. [Monitoring the National Waste Plan.] https://www.ymparisto.fi/fi/kestava-kierto-ja-biotalous/kierratys-jatteet-jajatehuolto/valtakunnallisen-jatesuunnitelman-seuranta Yrittäjät, 2020. Jätehuolto [Waste management]. Suomen Yrittäjät. https://www.yrittajat.fi/yrittajan-abc/energia-ymparisto-ja-maankaytto/ymparistotietoa/jatehuolto-317065
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Report of the Circwaste project coordinated by the Finnish Environment Institute:
Municipal waste management in Finland ISBN 978-952-11-5539-0 (online) Syke, 2023.