Waste sorting and recycling tips and tricks

Sorting waste is a smart thing to do. There is a great waste sorting system in Finland and almost everything can be recycled.

By sorting waste, we can reduce the share of useless mixed waste ending up to the refuse dumps and increase the share of the reusable waste.

In all Hoas properties there are waste containers for:

Mixed waste: Non-recyclable final waste, such as hygiene products, vacuum cleaner dust bags, cigarette butts, worn-out shoes, drinking glasses, ceramics.

Bio-waste: Decomposing and compostable food and kitchen waste.

Plastic packaging: Plastic containers, wrappers, bags or bottles used for packaging a product to be sold.

Paper: All paper coming through the mailbox or used for writing and printing.

Cardboard: Packages made of carton, paper and cardboard, such as milk and juice cartons, cereal and cookie packages, paper bags, egg cartons, toilet paper cores.

Metal: Small metal items, such as food and beverage cans, aluminium foil and tins, metal lids and caps.

Glass: Coloured and clear glass bottles and jars (note: bottles with deposits can be returned to supermarkets or Alko).

The trash bin cabinet in the kitchen is often too small for sorting all seven waste types, but with a little imagination you can handle sorting all types.

Here are our suggestions on how to collect different waste types:

Containers for different waste materials are in different colours. They also often have signs and pictures of the material they are for.

It is important to always take all rubbish to the waste point and not leave it elsewhere in the property.

If a container is full, there is often another similar container that has room. Never leave anything on the waste room floor. Garbage left on the floor or to the yard, can attract rats. In addition, containers cannot be emptied if there is lots of waste on the floor.

If there is more than one waste sorting point around the property area, some containers might only be at one of the sorting points.

If you are uncertain of what goes where, try HSY’s Waste Guide! Type the name of the waste item or material as your search term, and the guide will tell you what type of waste it is and where you should take it.

Always choose the grey mixed waste container if you can’t figure out where your waste item should be sorted to.

Furniture and electronics do not belong to the property’s waste point and must be taken to the Sortti station by tenants themselves.

Furniture that is in good condition can be recycled by taking to Kierrätyskeskus (Reuse Centre), Fida or Kontti by Red Cross.

Electronics can be taken to any store that sells electronic devices.

Almost all glass and plastic bottles as well as beverage cans have a deposit if returned to reverse vending machines.

Deposits are 0,10–0 ,40 € depending on size and material of the beverage container. Reverse vending machines are located in or near supermarkets and Alko stores.

Thus, never throw bottles and cans to a trash bin! If you have friends over, you might make a nice amount of extra coins by collecting empty beverage packages and returning them afterwards.

Batteries can be taken to stores that sell batteries. You can for example find red battery recycling boxes in most grocery stores. Batteries can also be sorted to Sortti containers for hazardous waste.

When recycling batteries, tape over the poles of batteries to prevent short circuits.

Incandescent and halogen lamps can be sorted to normal mixed waste. Energy-saving and other fluorescent lamps must be disposed of as hazardous waste. They can also be returned free of charge to stores that sell lights and other electrical appliances (e.g. big supermarkets).