What kind of waste is sorted as biowaste?

All waste that decomposes, e.g. all food leftovers, peels from fruit and vegetables, fish trimmings, solid and liquid fats (in a carton packaging). Also coffee filters, tea bags, paper towels, napkins and faded flowers are biowaste.

You can also put egg cartons in biowaste, but unfortunately eggshells cause huge trouble at our biowaste management plant, which is why we recommend putting eggshells in mixed waste (combustible waste). Dog poop, cat sand etc. cannot be sorted as biowaste.

What kinds of biowaste bags work at Stormossen’s plant?

We recommend that biowaste is sorted into Stormossen’s paper bags, other paper bags, e.g. flour or potato bags or bags made from folded newspapers. We recommend paper bags because they decompose better than so-called bioplastic bags in the biowaste treatment process. Do not use regular plastic bags.

Why don’t biodegradable plastic bags work?

There are many types of biodegradable bags and the differences are not easy to recognize. Degradeability is often tested in certain circumstances which might not occur in our biowaste treatment plant. If the bag does not fully decompose, its residues will be found in our compost soil.

Where to get more biowaste bags?

Check out this page to find locations where you can pick up biowaste bags free of charge for biowaste sorting.

Check out this page to find locations where you can pick up biowaste bags free of charge for biowaste sorting.

 

What alternatives do we have for sorting biowaste in a detached house?

1. Separate Biowaste Container in Your Own Yard

The charge for emptying a biowaste container (140 liters) is 8,66€/emptying (incl. VAT 25,5%). The container will be emptied every other week during in the summer (April–October) and it can be emptied every fourth week in the winter (November–March) or more frequently, if needed. If you’d like to extend your biowaste bin’s emptying interval, contact us by email logistiikka@stormossen.fi.

2. Shared container with a neighbour

You can also share a biowaste container with your neighbour. In that case, submit an application for a shared biowaste container to Vaasa Region’s Waste Committee (Vaasan seudun jätelautakunta) (in Finnish). The cost of emptying the container is divided between the parties as desired. There is a service fee of 3,14€/invoice for shared bills.

3. Stormossen’s Multi-Comparment Container

You can sort biowaste, metal packages, plastic packages, and carton packages in Stormossen’s multi-compartment container. The emptying price is 15,04€/emptying (incl. VAT 25,5%). The price includes the transportation cost, the container service cost, and the biowaste treatment fee (packaging waste has no treatment fees). The multi-compartment container cannot be shared with another household.

The multi-compartment container’s emptying interval is every other week in the summer (April 1 – October 10), and it can be extended to every fourth week in the winter (November 1 – March 31). If you’d like to make changes to the emptying interval, contact us by email logistiikka@stormossen.fi.

4. Your Own, Year-Round, Closed, and Insulated Compost

If you have a closed and insulated compost that is used year-round, you can sort your biowaste into it. You can also share the compost with a neighbour. Bokashi is also allowed. In that case, post-composting in a closed compost is compulsory. You must fill out a composting notification form at Vaasa Region’s Waste Committee’s (Vaasan seudun jätelautakunta) website (in Finnish). It is also possible to compost only in summertime and sort biowaste in Stormossen’s container in wintertime.

Which company empties my biowaste bin?

Here you will find a list of the transport companies that collect biowaste in different areas by postal codes. If you have problems or want to change the emptying interval, contact Stormossen by sending an email to logistiikka@stormossen.fi or by calling 010 320 7676.

 

Why does the collection of biowaste not affect all single-family homes in Stormossen’s area?

Vaasa Region’s Waste Committee has decided that the collection of biowaste applies to postal code areas with at least 200 inhabited properties and to areas that the garbage truck must pass through to reach areas with at least 200 inhabited properties. Via this link, you can see which postal codes belong to Area A, where biowaste collection started on October 1, 2023, and which postal codes belong to Area B, where biowaste sorting is voluntary. Residents in Area B have the option to join the biowaste collection under the same conditions as residents in Area A.

How many can share a biowaste container?

If more than one household is using the same biowaste container, the smallest volume of the container is five (5) litres per person per week. For example, a 240-litre waste bin that is emptied with an interval of two (2) weeks can be shared by a maximum of 24 persons. The biggest possible volume for a biowaste bin that is moved by hand is 240 litres. If the emptying interval is changed to four (4) weeks in the winter (November 1 – March 31), the container can be used by a maximum of 12 persons.

If we share a biowaste container, how does the payment work?

The emptying fee (8,66 €/emptying incl. VAT 25,5 %) is divided among the participating parties. The invoice can be divided according to the percentages that the parties have agreed upon. The percentages are indicated in the application for a shared waste container. Each party will receive their own bill, and an administration fee for the shared invoice of 3,14 €/invoice, i.e. 12,56 €/year (four invoices) (incl. VAT 25,5 %), will be added.

What are the requirements for a biowaste composter?

The composter must be closed to prevent vermin from getting in as well as insulated to function also during the winter. You can buy a compost from a hardware store or a supermarket or build your own, as long as the criteria are met.

Is someone coming to inspect my composter?

Vaasa Region’s Waste Committee operates composter inspections during the year. You will receive a notification two weeks before the inspection.

Can I compost using the bokashi method?

Yes, as long as the waste is further composted in a closed composter. The composter does not need to be insulated if you use the bokashi method. Waste must not be buried directly in the ground from the bokashi.

Bokashi is a method for composting biowaste. The waste is packed in a bin with a lid, along with a bran that is prepared with specific micro-organisms. These ferment/lactic acid ferment the kitchen compost in an oxygen-free environment. The bin is kept indoors at room temperature and ferments for two weeks.

Can we use a multi-compartment container for biowaste sorting?

Yes. You can sort biowaste, metal packages, plastic packages, and carton packages in Stormossen’s multi-compartment container. The emptying price is 15,04 €/emptying (incl. VAT 25,5 %). The price includes the transportation cost, the container service cost, and the biowaste treatment fee (packaging waste has no treatment fees).

The multi-compartment container’s emptying interval is every other week in the summer (April 1 – October 10), and it can be extended to every fourth week in the winter (November 1 – March 31).

Choose your transport company for mixed waste, and please address questions, requests concerning emptying intervals, and feedback about mixed waste to your chosen company.

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