Can you dispose of an old sofa in the waste shelter?

The correct place for large items is a recycling center or waste station. If you can't transport them yourself, many recycling services offer pickup at a reasonable price — some charities even do it for free. Additionally, YH Kotien residents in Tampere have access to a shared van that can be used for transporting large items.

Why is it important to pay attention to waste sorting?

Waste sorting should be part of everyday routines. Even small sorting mistakes can have surprisingly large consequences. When waste ends up in the wrong bin, recyclable materials are lost and processing costs increase.

Three key reasons to sort waste properly:

1. Environmental reasons
   Sorting is one of the most effective everyday actions for the environment. When waste is processed correctly, materials can be recycled and reused. This reduces the need for new raw materials and lowers the environmental impact of production.

Incorrectly sorted waste, on the other hand, undermines the entire system. A single plastic bag in biowaste or a dirty plastic package in plastic recycling can prevent an entire batch from being reused.

1. Economic reasons
   Effective sorting reduces mixed waste, which is the most expensive type of waste. Less mixed waste means fewer bin emptyings. This directly affects waste management costs: fewer trucks, fewer visits, lower expenses.

These small savings reduce the overall costs for the housing company and can help curb rent or maintenance fee increases.

1. Legislation
   Finland’s new Waste Act came into effect in 2021. The changes are based on EU recycling targets. The law aims to raise the recycling rate of municipal waste to 60% by 2030 and 65% by 2035.

For housing companies, this means that separate collection of biowaste and packaging waste is mandatory once certain resident thresholds are exceeded. It’s no longer voluntary — it’s a legal responsibility.