Waste is a terrible thing to waste

RECYCLING HELPS to protect the environment and natural resources. It also promotes circular economy, which means that one person’s waste is the other person’s raw material. This way no new waste is produced.

It’s good to keep valuable materials in circulation as long as possible. The pipeline-based waste collection system collects biowaste, which is utilised to produce biogas, paper and cardboard, which are utilised as materials, and plastic packages, which are utilised to produce new plastic products. Mixed waste is incinerated to produce electricity and heat.

Recycling is a good deed for the environment and it requires everyone’s contribution. Small actions lead to big changes!

Less waste, more recycling

FINNISH WASTE LEGISLATION aims to reduce the amount of waste and to utilise all the materials. The European Union also talks about a resource-efficient Europe, where everything possible is utilised. Since 2014, mixed domestic waste that can’t be recycled has ended up in an incinerator plant instead of a landfill.

In 2016, a landfill ban on organic waste came into effect. As a result, sorting of biodegradable waste (biowaste, cardboard, paper, wood) and waste containing organic materials (textiles, plastic) has become more effective in Finland.

Recycling WORKS

RECYCLING CAN be implemented in a meaningful way, as we have learned from the recycling of returnable beverages. The return rate for cans in 2016 was almost 100%. Recyclable plastic bottles (return rate 92 %) and refillable glass bottles (88 %) are not that far behind, either.

It is notable that glass bottles are used and filled up again, 33 times on average. Similarly, the aluminum used in cans can be recycled almost indefinitely; the returned aluminum cans are melted down and the material is used to make new beverage cans. This type of manufacturing requires only five percent of the energy used up by the original manufacturing process.

Paper nation

THE FINNS – the most enthusiastic newspaper and magazine readers in the world – have also learnt to recycle their papers. Paper fiber can be recycled 3-5 times which means that forests can be conserved and will keep producing oxygen and fighting climate change.

Total effort

IT IS clear from these recycling success stories that new, greener measures can be adopted by the public. The next step is to broaden the scope: make sure that we are doing all we can in the recycling department. This job requires a new kind of attitude and little effort in learning the new ways. The pay-off is considerable: the households and the surrounding city will remain clean and safe, there is reduced burden on the environment and the world is a little better place to live.

Everything has its own place

THE PIPELINE BASED WASTE COLLECTION SYSTEM collects most of the domestic waste including biowaste, paper, cardboard, plastic packages and mixed waste.

THE SORTING ROOM is for waste that can’t be put in the tube because of its material or size, such as glass, metal and a large piece of cardboard.

OTHER large domestic waste items, such as broken furniture and domestic appliances, can be taken to Sortti-stations or recycling centres.

Free collection points for batteries, fluorescent tubes, energy-saving lamps, LED lamps and other electrical and electronic equipment (SER) can be found in many grocery stores and specialised stores that sell these products. Textiles and old clothes can be taken to their own collection points.

Check your closest collection point at www.kierratys.info.