Separate collection of waste

Many municipal solid waste fractions should be collected separately in order to keep them as clean as possible for the further utilization. Separate collection options could be divided into the following types:

Separate collection from properties
Self-delivering to waste sorting stations
Collection network organized by EPR corporations
Other types

Property owners, other holders and housing companies are obliged to organize waste collection points and containers for household waste, and waste producers (residents) should take their waste to these collection points. Different types of wastes are separately collected to make handling and utilization easier. In addition, it is especially reasonable to collect waste, which still has good market value, such as metal and paper.

Basically, in apartment buildings, there should be organized separate collection of paper, cardboard, glass, plastic packages, metal, and biowaste from the properties. Residents of detached houses usually collect only mixed waste, but many properties often also have their own composter.

Photo: HSY

Other waste types can be self-delivered by residents (especially of detached houses) to waste sorting stations or collection points organized by producers via EPR corporations.

Photo: Vuores waste sorting station. Source: Pirkanmaan jätehuolto

Hazardous waste produced by households should be accepted free of charge on collection points organized by MWMO. Hazardous waste, which belongs under EPR (e.g. batteries and accumulators, WEEE) can also be delivered to the collection points arranged by the producers. Pharmaceutical waste, needles and syringes generated in households must be delivered to the pharmacies.

Detached houses, mainly of rural sparsely populated areas (incl. summer cottages) not connected to waste collection network, have to join local waste collection network organized by MWMO. In some cases this take place also in urban areas, for example in Helsinki Metropolitan Area. Pre-sorted waste could be returned to regional collection points for packaging waste and paper of EPR corporations. In addition, glass and plastic bottles and metal beverage cans with deposit could be returned to shops selling beverage bottles.