Biowaste recycling and waste information in order

If Finland wants to be a credible circular economy country, it is time to correct the information gaps in waste management and raise recycling rates to target levels.

Finland was the first country in the world to publish a circular economy roadmap, and at the same time we were subject to the Early Warning procedure. If we want to be a true pioneer and a credible circular economy country, it is time to fix the basics of waste management, i.e. to correct the clear knowledge gaps in waste management and raise recycling rates to target levels.

There are high expectations for biowaste recycling in the coming years. The National Waste Plan (Valtsu) has set a recycling target for biowaste of 60% by 2023. Biowaste recycling also has a significant impact on the national municipal waste recycling rate. Achieving the recycling targets of the new Waste Directive requires significant improvements in the efficiency of biowaste recycling.

According to Statistics Finland, the composting and digestion of municipal waste has accounted for approximately 12–15% of all municipal waste generated over the last ten years of statistical data. There is no precise information on the amounts of biowaste generated in households and in trade and other industries. It has been estimated that approximately half of the recycled biowaste would be collected in households. According to regional sorting studies, mixed waste typically contains approximately 25–40% biowaste. Based on sorting studies and other studies, it is possible to roughly estimate the total amount of biowaste generated in households and the uncollected biowaste potential that could be recycled in the coming years.

However, we would already need more precise information about how much biowaste is generated and where. Without better information about the current situation, we can only assume that there are plenty of opportunities but also challenges.

Despite Finnish expertise and in many respects very well-managed municipal waste management, we undeniably have significant information gaps related to waste management, which slow down or prevent the development of waste management. In addition to sorting studies, there would be a need for, among other things, properly implemented waste composition studies, which would monitor the exact composition of the waste over a long period of time and with a sufficient number of samples, including impurities, moisture, etc. In addition to waste generated in households, information would also be needed on waste generated in trade and other business activities. In addition to basic research, there would be a great need for a waste information system that would be sufficiently comprehensive and serve different actors in a diverse way. The information system is being developed, but the system will still take time to be put into use.

LCA Consulting has conducted regional waste management modelling of household waste, covering the collection and treatment of waste generated by approximately 3,5 million people. According to these regional modelling, approximately 20–40% of the biowaste generated in households is currently recycled. Based on this sample, achieving the Valtsu recycling target requires a significant increase in recycling efficiency. Naturally, the situations vary from case to case, but in the areas examined, there have generally been good conditions for expanding separate collection and a significant increase in biowaste recycling has seemed entirely realistic.

It is clear that legislation requires that biowaste recycling be made more efficient, and there are opportunities for this to be done nationwide. Where, how and how much recycling is worth or needs to be increased is of course regional. Municipal waste management is a complex entity that includes numerous factors, the effects of which on waste accumulation, costs and the environment are often challenging to assess. Without high-quality research data and functioning information systems, waste management cannot be managed effectively, let alone waste management development work.

It is possible to sustainably increase the recycling of biowaste. Finland can truly become a leader in the circular economy. However, this requires a common will and investments in research, information systems and the development of waste management.

Antti Niskanen

The author is the CEO of LCA Consulting Oy, a company that provides life cycle modeling and resource efficiency services, and holds a PhD in technology.