# Source separation of waste in Finland - Savonia AMK

> Separation of waste is important, since correctly separated waste can be further utilized in different ways.

## Overview of Waste Separation
Separation of waste is an important part of recycling, since correctly separated waste can be further utilized in different ways. Source separation could also make it easier to understand how to reduce general waste output, since each different type of waste stands out, when a waste is separated.

In Finland, the separate collection of waste begins already at the same place it is generated at. In practice this means, that the waste is collected separately at households, public spaces, and all other facilities. All these facilities have separate bins for different waste types. The most common waste bins are biowaste, glass, metal, plastic packages, paper, cardboard and carton, and mixed waste.

## Waste Collection Systems
Households, public facilities, and industrial sites all have waste collection points, with separate waste collection container bins. Some facilities with larger quantities of waste generated have deep collection containers, where the actual container goes underground, enabling much larger collection capacity.

Detached houses might not always have waste collection container bins for all the separately collected waste types. Instead, they can take separately collected waste types to recycling points, that are usually situated in the neighborhoods or at the proximity of supermarkets. Biowaste might be handled by the households themselves, with their own composting system, usually at the backyard. Because detached houses have only one family’s wastes to handle, they might have waste collection container bins with more than one compartment to enable separate collection. This is besides ecological, also economical, since in Finland the fees for separately collected waste types are lower than for mixed waste.

## Producer Responsibility and Special Waste
Due to the producer responsibility in Finland, manufacturers and importers of electronic devices are obligated to also arrange collection of electrical appliance waste. These collection points are often at the stores selling electrical equipment. All convenience stores have a collection point for old batteries, and many have a recycling point for small domestic electronic appliances. Stores focused on selling electronic devices are obligated to receive also larger electrical appliance waste. Electronics can also be taken to sorting stations. Returning old electronic appliances is cost-free for consumers.

Recycling of plastic bottles and cans is possible at grocery stores. Finland has a deposit system, where the price of all bottle and can containers for drinks includes a small deposit, which can be cashed by returning them into the store. Old textiles are also being separately collected and the collection points can be found for example at shopping malls and supermarkets.

## Sorting Stations and Pharmacies
Sorting stations accept almost all waste types. Consumers can bring certain waste types to the station cost-free, for some other waste types the waste management center takes a small fee depending on the waste type and the amount brought to sorting. For example, garden waste, hazardous waste, electronic devices and larger sized objects are usually brought to the sorting stations by individuals themselves. Waste management centers also offer touring collection services for domestic hazardous waste.

Expired medicine waste is collected only by pharmacies since it requires special processing. All pharmacies have collection points where customers can return expired medicine, used needles and syringes to be properly disposed. This service is cost-free for all customers.

## Authors and Credits
**Authors:**
* Suvi Hackman, Research Engineer, Savonia University of Applied Sciences
* Harri Auvinen, Research and Development Manager, Savonia University of Applied Sciences
* Miika Virtanen, Project Specialist, Savonia University of Applied Sciences
* Eevi Minkkinen, Research Engineer, Savonia University of Applied Sciences

**Photos:**
* Eevi Minkkinen (2024)

## Further Reading
* [Finnish Packaging Recycling RINKI Ltd., Rinki eco take-back points](https://rinkiin.fi/en/for-households/rinki-eco-take-back-points/)
* [SER-kierrätys – the official recycler of electrical and electronic equipment, EE-equipment recycling](https://serkierratys.fi/en/ee-equipment-recycling/what-is-weee)
* [InfoFinland, Waste and recycling](https://www.infofinland.fi/en/housing/waste-and-recycling)
* [Helsinki Region Environmental Services HSY, Waste and recycling](https://www.hsy.fi/en/waste-and-recycling/multi-compartment-container-packaging/)