Municipal waste

Municipal waste means, in addition to waste generated in housing, waste from commerce, industry and services that can be equated with it.
 
According to the estimate, 65 percent of municipal waste is generated in households and the rest in administration, service and business activities.
 
In the 2010s, municipal waste volumes have increased until 2021, when almost 3.5 million tons of municipal waste were generated. In 2022, the amount began to drop and in 2023 municipal waste generation was only 2.6 million tons.
 
The reporting and statistical methods of waste data have become more detailed and developed, which have contributed to the decrease in the amount of waste classified as municipal waste in 2022.

In 2023, 466 kilograms of municipal waste was generated per capita, less than before. It was less than the EU average, which in 2023 was 411 kilogramps per capita.

In the previous years, the amounts were growing and in 2021 629 kilograms of municipal waste was generated per person.

The EU average in the amount of municipal waste per person was also increasing until 2021, but the trend was significantly more moderate than in Finland. In Filand, per capita, the average has long been higher than the EU average.

The amount of municipal waste increased from the level of 2015 by 27 percent until 2021, after which the amount fell. In 2023 it was only about five percent less than in the comparison year 2015.

During the same period, the increase in gross national product has been more moderate. In 2023, the increase of GDP compared to 2015 was eight percent.
 
The reporting and statistical methods of waste data have become more detailed and developed, which have contributed to the decrease in the amount of waste classified as municipal waste from 2022.

In the light of current statistics, it is not yet possible to say unequivocally whether Finland has succeeded in achieving the decoupling it was aiming for, where waste volumes would develop independently of economic growth.

New operating models of the circular economy can simultaneously create well-being and produce less waste. In this case, preventing the generation of waste is not related to reducing the volume of operations.

During the years 2006-2016, a big change tookplace in Finland's municipal waste treatment methods. Landfilling almost completely stopped, and it has been replaced by energy recovery. This has been especially influenced by the organic waste landfill ban that entered into force in 2016, as well as the increased incineration plant capacity.
 
The recycling rate has varied after 2015 being 39-43 percent. In 2023, the recycling rate of municipal waste, calculated as the share of material recovery from the total amount of waste, grew to 45 precent. Changes in the composition of waste (e.g. reduction of paper) and, on the other hand, an increase in the number of biogas plants that also utilize municipal waste are behind the development of the recycling rate.
 
Like other EU countries, Finland is committed to recycling 55 percent of municipal waste by 2025, 60 percent in 2030 and 65 percent in 2035.

The recycling rate of Finland's municipal waste has varied after 2015 being 39-43 percent. In 2023, the recycling rate of municipal waste, calculated as the share of material recovery from the total amount of waste, grew to 45 precent. Changes in the composition of waste (e.g. reduction of paper) and, on the other hand, an increase in the number of biogas plants that also utilize municipal waste are behind the development of the recycling rate.
 
Like other EU countries, Finland is committed to recycling 55 percent of municipal waste by 2025, 60 percent in 2030 and 65 percent in 2035.
 
Finland's weak recycling rate has also been noticed by the European Commission. Finland is included in the Commission's list of countries that have difficulties in meeting the first 2025 recycling targets.
 
The commission's estimate is based on 2020 figures. According to the report, the amount of waste should be reduced, for example by increasing reuse. In addition, the recycling of bio-waste and plastic in particular should be increased.

In Finland, the disposal of municipal waste in landfills has stopped almost completely after 2016. In 2023, landfilling and other final disposal per inhabitant was only about 2 kilograms. In the EU, the amount was 115 kilograms per person.
 
The amount of waste incineration has increased strongly in Finland. The majority of municipal waste incineration is for energy recovery. In 2023, the amount of waste incineration decreased from previous years to about 255 kilograms per inhabitant. This was partly due to the more accurate statistical method of municipal waste than before. In the EU, the corresponding figure decreased slightly from before, to 129 kilograms per person in 2023.
 
The indicator describes the amount of municipal waste that has not ended up in recycling, but whose material has been lost to incineration or final treatment. In addition, the indicator illustrates the development of the relationship between waste incineration and landfilling.