Consumers in Ostrobothnia, Finland, struggle with organic waste sorting despite reforms by Ekorosk
Consumers in the Ostrobothnia region of Finland are still struggling to sort their organic waste correctly, despite a significant waste management reform implemented by Ekorosk over a year ago. Ekorosk operates across ten municipalities in Ostrobothnia, including Central and Southern Ostrobothnia. Since the end of July last year, organic waste must be packaged in paper or biodegradable bags. However, resistance to this change persists, with nearly half of consumers still using plastic bags for organic waste contrary to regulations. Only about 36% of individuals use approved biodegradable bags, while just 16% use paper bags.
A waste analysis reveals that better bag choices correlate with improved sorting practices. Those opting for approved paper bags sort their organic waste correctly 98% of the time. In contrast, those using non-compliant plastic bags manage to sort their waste correctly only 74% of the time. Ekorosk was not surprised by the findings of the analysis. CEO Michael Östman stated that the results align with expectations, and the company will continue to focus on educating consumers to encourage a switch to the correct bags.
The waste management company emphasizes that accurate sorting also benefits the environment. Improperly sorted waste could lead to problems for consumers as biogas plants may refuse organic waste that has been incorrectly sorted, potentially resulting in higher waste fees in the long run. Despite these challenges, the percentage of correctly sorted organic waste has improved, with households managing to sort 86% of their organic waste this year, compared to around 80% in 2023. The transition to paper bags has contributed significantly to this improvement, although some still include animal waste and diapers in organic waste when they belong in energy waste.