The objective of the project is to increase the demand for bio-based recycled fertilizers and to promote more efficient and higher-quality nutrient recycling in Finland.

Concrete measures include, among others:

• preparing clearer guidelines for the sorting of biowaste

• assessing the quality of separately collected biowaste

• developing a tool for monitoring the quality of sorted biowaste

• testing a new method for evaluating the level of impurities in recycled fertilizers

• enhancing the adoption of new technologies at recycling facilities

• preparing an action plan for further measures

Suomen Biokierto ja Biokaasu ry acts as the project’s main implementer and administrator. In addition to KIVO, co-implementers include the Finnish Food Authority (Ruokavirasto) and Kierrätysteollisuus ry. The project will be carried out between April 2025 and June 2026. The project is partially funded by the Ministry of the Environment through its Nutrient Recycling Programme (Ahti Programme).

More information about the project (in Finnish).

The purpose of the project is to produce updated publicly available information on the microplastic content and other harmful substances present in products used as recycled fertilizer products in Finland, or in the raw materials used for their production. The project also aims to assess their potential impacts on the environment and the food chain in light of the latest research, as well as to explore ways to reduce harmful substances at different stages of the value chain.

The project has received funding from the Ministry of the Environment through the Ahti Programme. The objective of the Ahti Programme is to reduce nutrient loading, improve soil structure, control harmful substances, and recover and utilize resources.

Project participants include the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Kiertoravinne, seven partner companies (the most significant operators in the sector in Finland, including Stormossen), and the Risk Assessment Unit of the Finnish Food Authority. The project started in 2025 and will conclude in 2026.

More information about the project (in Finnish).

The era of Biochar is a project that seeks ways to diversify regional livelihoods while accelerating the achievement of emission reductions by strengthening carbon sinks. The project covers the entire biochar value chain, from raw materials and their cultivation to the use of alternative end products.

With regard to end-use applications, the focus is on soil improvement, fertilizer use, metallurgical applications, water purification, and the promotion of plant health. The long-term impacts of biochar in soil, including soil carbon sequestration capacity, are monitored in order to verify the formation of carbon sinks and to develop a reliable model for predicting soil carbon sequestration potential.

Project partners: Oulu University of Applied Sciences (Oamk), Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), University of Vaasa, the Municipality of Utajärvi, and the Finnish Rural Education Association (Maaseudun sivistysliitto, MSL).

Project collaborators: Outokumpu Oyj, Kiertokaari Oy, Ab Stormossen Oy, Oulu Water, Carbon Balance Finland Oy, Feasib Oy, AGRI Biotech, and Österbottens Svenska Producentförbund r.f. (ÖSP).

Project implementation period: 1 January 2024 – 31 December 2026.

More information about the project.

The Ekoälyä project is developing an artificial intelligence–based waste identification system. The system being piloted in the project aims to direct collected waste more efficiently than at present to the appropriate treatment facilities.

Project lead organizations: Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences, University of Turku, and Westenergy.
Project duration: March 2024 – December 2026.

More information about the project (in Finnish).

Stormossen participates in the national Kierrätysprosenttilaskuri project because reliable calculation of recycling rates and transparency of material flows are essential for the development of the circular economy. There is a strong need to harmonize national calculation models and improve the comparability of data between different stakeholders. The project is also important because current data collection practices are fragmented and labor-intensive. The new Circular Economy Act requires data transparency, which the national calculator supports. Digital and standardized solutions strengthen cooperation within the sector. At the same time, the project lays the foundation for new partnerships and business opportunities that have a direct impact on improving recycling rates.

The project is led by Pirkanmaan Jätehuolto together with SYKE, the ELY Centre, Circular Pirkanmaa, and KIVO. More than a dozen municipal waste management companies are involved in the project.

The project examines the need for compactors at unmanned waste collection points, their requirements, and alternative implementation options. Stormossen is participating in the project together with seventeen other municipal waste management companies. The aim is to enable the safe self-service reception of larger waste bags (150 liters). In addition, remote monitoring and registration functionalities are desired. The needs and risk assessments as well as the planning phases have been completed. A functional prototype of the compactor has been developed and granted EU design protection. A patent application for the compactor concept is currently in progress.

Project duration: 3 September 2024 – 31 December 2026.

Every year, waste composition analyses are carried out at Stormossen. A waste composition analysis involves manually sorting samples of collected waste by material type in order to determine the contents of waste bags. The aim of these analyses is to gain an understanding of how well waste sorting works in households within Stormossen’s service area. The analyses examine samples from both biowaste and mixed waste, selected from different municipal areas, different waste transport operators, and various types of housing.

If you would like to learn more about the waste composition analysis, please contact Environmental Specialist Fanny Ehrström at fanny.ehrstrom@stormossen.fi.

Every other year, a customer survey is conducted among residents of Stormossen’s owner municipalities. Stormossen’s 2024 customer survey attracted a record number of 4,163 respondents from Stormossen’s service area. Most respondents lived in detached or semi-detached houses, and 27 % were families with children.

The survey examined household waste sorting behavior, factors that promote or hinder sorting, and the role of recycling in respondents’ everyday lives. The results provide valuable insights to support communication efforts.

The next customer survey will be conducted in autumn 2026.

Stormossen is taking a major step forward in its commitment to sustainable development. Construction of the third bioreactor (BR3) began in 2024, with commissioning and test runs scheduled to start in summer 2025. The work has progressed according to the project plan and timeline, and no workplace accidents have occurred.

The digester has a volume of 4,400 m³, which is three times larger than the current sludge digester. This investment addresses existing capacity challenges and enables more efficient and environmentally friendly treatment of sludge and biowaste. The new reactor increases biogas production, reducing the need for external energy purchases. This helps keep treatment costs low and makes the facility more energy efficient.
The expanded reactor capacity also allows smoother handling of the digestate, resulting in a smaller quantity and more consistent quality. Larger biogas storage improves the management of the produced biogas and optimizes its use. In addition, the increased reactor capacity makes it possible to adapt to new requirements for biowaste collection and to meet future needs of the owner municipalities and industry.

When BR3 is commissioned for sludge treatment, Stormossen’s existing reactors will be serviced one at a time, after which both will be used for the treatment of biowaste.

The first self-service recycling station was implemented in Maxmo in 2022. The recycling stations in Malax, Vörå, and Oravais were converted into self-service stations in 2024, and Replot in 2025. In addition, the Vähäkyrö recycling station will be converted into a self-service station during 2026.

A new self-service station is being built in Isokyrö, where a future self-service station concept is being developed as a pilot project. The design takes into account the needs of customers, staff, maintenance, and logistics. The station will be equipped with comprehensive digital solutions for services, operations, and monitoring. The station will be completed in 2026.

For customers, self-service means both freedom and responsibility, as there is no staff on site. Access to the station is granted by showing a customer card at the gate. Assistance with waste sorting is available through the sorting guide on Stormossen’s website and mobile app. If needed, a service phone number is also available.

As a general rule, most types of waste can be brought to a recycling station, with the exception of medicines, tyres, and explosives. Self-service stations are open every day of the week. The goal is for all Stormossen recycling stations to operate as self-service stations to some extent.

The objective of the Boost Nordic Biogas project is to strengthen the economic viability of regional biogas production, improve its efficiency, and facilitate the construction of new biogas plants.

The project is implemented as a collaborative effort involving Stormossen and Novia University of Applied Sciences from Finland, the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and BioFuel Region from Sweden, and SINTEF Narvik from Norway.

Project home page (in Swedish).

The Best Ace project focused on developing new markets for biogas.

The project is led by Energikontor Sydost in Sweden. In addition to Stormossen, four organizations from the Baltic Sea region in Sweden, Estonia, and Lithuania are participating in the project.

Read more about the project here.

The BioDigi project explored cost-effective and sustainable digital solutions for long-term carbon sequestration.

The project is led by the University of Oulu in collaboration with Stormossen, the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), the University of Vaasa, Kiertokaari Oy, and Österbottens svenska producentförbund r.f. (ÖSP).

More information about the project.

The MAP-UP-P2X project examined the potential of combining captured carbon dioxide with renewable energy for the local and environmentally friendly production of synthetic fuels.

The project involved Novia University of Applied Sciences, Åbo Akademi University, Vaasa University of Applied Sciences (VAMK), Westenergy, and Stormossen.

More information about the project.