Study reveals high sorting rates of plastic and metal waste among consumers in Finland

A recent study examined the contents of plastic packaging waste and metal waste collected from consumers in Finland. Satu Estakari, the circular economy and quality manager for Finnish packaging producers, expressed satisfaction with the results, stating, “We should commend consumers for their effective sorting of waste.”

This national packaging waste collaboration group conducted its first analysis of plastic packaging waste, evaluating samples from various regions in Finland collected between April and June. They found that 85% of plastic packaging waste from residential properties was correctly sorted, with the figure slightly higher at Rinki eco-points. The remaining waste included items not suitable for these collection points, such as sleds and garden furniture, which are made from thicker plastic that processing facilities cannot handle.

In terms of metal waste, 90% was properly sorted, which is consistent across both residential collection and eco-points. The proportion of incorrectly sorted metal waste has decreased since the last study conducted five years ago. About 10% of metal collected is still misclassified waste, including dangerous materials and electrical devices, which pose risks during recycling. Estakari noted that “even a single battery can create a significant hazard.”

Despite the commendable sorting practices, Estakari emphasized the need for increased recycling rates of packaging waste to ensure more materials are processed into new products. The recycling target for plastic packaging waste in Finland is set at 50% by early next year, while the metal packaging target is significantly higher at 70%.