Plastic pollution continues to plague Finnish fields as Ministry acknowledges grocery store waste
A significant amount of plastic ends up in Finnish fields, primarily because plastic packaging is not separated from organic waste at stores. This issue has been acknowledged by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. Reports have surfaced about a farmer in North Ostrobothnia who discovered a considerable amount of plastic fragments in fertilizer obtained from Gasum. According to Gasum, the plastic content in the fertilizer is much lower than what is legally permissible. However, the question remains: how does plastic even end up in fertilizers? The answer lies in the production process, where organic waste is not entirely free of plastic.
The Ministry reports that a significant portion of this plastic comes from food waste generated at grocery stores. Titta Berlin, a negotiating officer at the ministry, explains that stores do not separate organic waste from packaging, which results in plastics being included. She suggests that reducing food waste further could help mitigate the issue, as well as increasing the use of biodegradable packaging. Berlin notes some improvement in food waste management, with excess food being donated to food aid programs.
Concerns regarding plastic content in organic waste also arise from companies like BioKymppi Oy, which processes this waste into fertilizers. CEO Mika Juvonen advocates for reconsidering the use of plastic packaging altogether. He highlights that plastic bags in organic waste containers pose additional problems. Juvonen points out that while most plastic waste comes from grocery surplus, household waste is also a contributor.
As regulatory measures tighten, a new law will reduce the allowable plastic content in recycled fertilizers by half starting in 2028. Berlin anticipates that even then, visible plastic may remain. The regulations aim to ensure that the recycling process utilizes organic waste nutrients effectively while balancing the need for better technology to manage plastic removal.