Easier recycling: updated instructions for sorting plastic and carton packaging
Finnish people feel like they know how to sort waste, and they know that it is an easy and tangible way to protect the environment. However, many are unsure of how to correctly sort plastic packaging and single-use takeaway containers. The national sorting guidelines have now been updated to clarify everyday waste management.
Sorting plastic packaging is easy – small stains don’t affect recyclability
Various plastic parts, such as caps, lids and pumps, must be removed from plastic packaging before being put into a collection container for recycling. A small amount of food on a container, like sauce stains or remnants of yogurt on the tub, don’t stop plastic packaging from being recyclable. Empty food containers that are stored at home for a long time can be wiped clean with a used napkin or kitchen towel to stop bad smells before being put into a collection container for plastic packaging.
Takeaway containers and single-use cups are recycled with packaging waste
Single-use drinking cups are now included in the packaging waste collection and should be sorted according to the material they are made of. Carton cups often contain a small amount of plastic as a protective layer, but they are recycled with carton packaging as carton accounts for most of the cups’ weight. Takeaway food containers and packaging as well as single-use plastic cups are recycled with plastic packaging.
New products are made from used and recycled packaging
Household packaging materials are collected at Rinki ecopoints across Finland and buildings with at least five households. Used packaging is turned into secondary raw material, which is used to make new plastic products. Recycled plastic can be used to produce many familiar household items, such as dish, toilet and clothes brushes, shoehorns, flowerpots, watering cans and spray bottles.
However, we have a lot of catching up to do in terms of sorting and recycling plastic packaging if we are to meet the recycling targets for plastic packaging set for Finland by the EU. Member States are expected to recycle 50% of their plastic packaging by the end of this year. In Finland, the current recycling rate is just over 30%.
“Small everyday actions have an impact. Sorting is an easy and tangible way to reduce waste and promote recycling. If all used household plastic packages – or at least eight out of ten – were correctly recycled, we could achieve the EU target”,
Sorting instructions for household packaging.
More information:
- Finnish Packaging Recycling Rinki Ltd: Marko Turunen, Operations Director, tel. +358 50 385 0727, marko.turunen@rinkiin.fi
- Sumi Ltd: Katja Laitinen, Recycling Coach, tel. +358 50 407 3959, katja.laitinen@sumi.fi
- Finnish Packaging Producers Ltd: Sanna Peltola, Operational Manager, tel. +358 50 385 4548, sanna.peltola@suomenpakkaustuottajat.fi
- Suomen Kiertovoima ry KIVO: Timo Hämäläinen, Chief Specialist, tel. +358 50 442 2371, timo.hamalainen@kivo.fi
- Association of Finnish Cities and Municipalities: Tuulia Innala, Senior Adviser, tel. +358 40 572 2120, tuulia.innala@kuntaliitto.fi
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