Waste management in remote areas, example of Kymenlaakso-area

If the property is located on an island or very far away, an alternative to property-specific waste management is a locked collective collection point, a lock point. In addition to the remote location, sometimes also the road leading to the property is so narrow or in poor condition that the waste cannot be transported by a garbage truck. The issue is usually confirmed by the waste carrier’s representative. A connection permit is requested from the regional waste management authority (Waste Board of Kyme region). A permit can be obtained if the property cannot be accessed by a garbage truck.

Lockable collective collection points are intended for final waste. This means mixed municipal waste in the area of the Waste Board of Kyme region, from which packaging waste suitable for recycling such as plastics, cardboard and metal has been sorted out. These waste fractions should be taken to Rinki eco take-back points. Bio-waste, on the other hand, can be composted on the property.

Lockable collective collection points are often located in marinas or otherwise in the vicinity of leisure settlements. Usually there are 10-100 properties that use lock points. The waste bins at the lock points are selected according to the number of users and can be e.g. 600 l ordinary waste bins or containers up to 8 m2 in size. Lock point containers are emptied on average once a week. The lock points are maintained by the local waste company or municipality, from which the holder of the connection permit receives the keys in return for the contract. An annual fee is charged for the use of the point, the amount of which usually depends on whether the apartment is used all year round or only in the summer.

The use of a locked collective collection point is always an exception to the so-called from the usual property-specific collection in the are of Waste Board of Kyme region. The waste management system is based on the fact that all properties have their own or, for example, a shared waste container with a neighbor. This is often cheaper than joining a joint collection point.