Recycling and Waste

Waste from private households can be sorted into recyclables, household waste and food waste. Household waste and food waste are put into your bins at home and recyclables should be taken to a recycling center.

Recycling

Sorting household waste saves resources and protects both people and the environment. Household waste may contain valuable and/or harmful substances that need to be disposed of correctly.

Recyclables can be sorted and deposited at one of the recycling stations in the municipality or taken to the Furunäset Environment Center.

The following can be deposited at recycling stations:

  • Paper (newspapers, advertising flyers, etc)
  • Cardboard (cartons, milk packaging, etc)
  • Soft plastic (plastic bags, packaging, etc)
  • Hard plastic (containers, bottles, etc)
  • Glass (sorted into colored or transparent)
  • Metal
  • Batteries
  • Lightbulbs

Recycling stations are operated by Förpacknings- och tidningsinsamlingen, FTI AB

Maintenance and emptying of the recycling stations in Bränna, Tallvik, Lansjärv and Svartbyn is carried out by Förpacknings- och tidningsinsamlingen (FTI) .

Recycling stations in Kypasjärvi, Gyljen and Lomträsk are operated by the local village associations who are responsible for cleaning and maintenance.

Hazardous waste, metal and electronics can be deposited at the Environment Center where recyclable materials such as wood, cardboard, paper and plastic are also handled.

Clean, intact secondhand items can also be deposited to be sold at our recycling market.

Household Waste and Food Waste

Waste that cannot be sorted at the recycling stations of the Environmental Center should be sorted into your bins at home. The green bin is for combustible waste and the brown bin for food waste. 

Combustible waste includes all household waste that cannot be deposited at a recycling center or the Environment Center other than food waste.

In addition to food waste, other compostable waste (e.g. kitchen towels) can be sorted into the brown bin.

Once a year new compostable bags for food waste are delivered to households in the municipality. These are special, compostable bags that break down over time - food waste cannot be thrown away in other plastic bags/containers. Additional compostable bags can be purchased from the municipality.

  • Bins should be placed approximately 1.5 meters from the side of the road. This allows the collection vehicle to empty your bins without hindering other traffic and ensures that the bins are not in the way for snow plows during the winter.
  • Bins should be standing level on a surface the same height as the road surface. This makes it easier for the collection vehicle because uneven surfaces make it more difficult to empty the bins. Ensure that you clear and even out any snow so that the bins do not fall over when they are replaced after collection.
  • Bins should be placed approximately 0.5 meters apart. Turn the bins so that the handles are facing away from the edge of the road, otherwise the lifting arm of the collection vehicle is not able to lift the bins.
  • Ensure that bins are not overfilled, it should be possible to fully close the lids.
    If the bins are overfilled they can be difficult to empty and rubbish can fall out. Overfilled bins might be left unemptied.

The bins are emptied according to the schedule found in the menu on the right under Documents. During the winter, the bins are emptied every three weeks and during the summer, the bins are emptied every two weeks. When you sort out what goes to the recycling station, your bins hold garbage from several weeks.

 

Municipal waste management is funded entirely through a fee set by the Municipal Council. The fee covers both waste collection and operation of recycling and environment centers.

You will find the waste management fee under the link to “Fees and Charges” in the menu on the right.