Waste management service fees 2024

Which waste has to be sorted on the property?

The waste management regulations of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area and Kirkkonummi define which waste the property has to sort and collect.

In residential properties, the sorting obligation is defined by the number of apartments. In other properties, the defining factor is the amount of generated waste.

Read more: Waste management regulations of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area and Kirkkonummi

The separate waste collection obligation for biowaste entered into force on 1 July 2023 in Espoo, Kauniainen and Kirkkonummi. It will enter into force on 1 January 2024 in Vantaa and on 1 July 2024 in Helsinki.

Rental waste containers

The choice of the appropriate number of waste containers and the collection frequency depend on the property’s size, resident structure and number of waste collection points.

We deliver manually movable waste containers of 140–660 litres to the property when the property joins HSY’s waste management as a new customer, orders more waste containers or changes the size of the waste container. The delivery time is seven weekdays and the delivery is free of charge. We charge separately for express delivery.

Manually movable waste containers owned by the property owner and in use on properties will be replaced with waste containers owned by HSY when they become unsuitable for use due to their poor condition or if the waste container does not meet  

the above-mentioned conditions defined for collection equipment. Using uniform waste containers improves the occupational safety of refuse truck drivers and makes collection smoother.

Waste container dimensions and instructions for planning the property’s waste collection point and choosing the containers: www.hsy.fi/en/waste-and-recycling/functional-waste-collection-point-on-property. You can also use the sizing table on our website as an aid for planning.

Larger, built-in deep containers and containers installed on the ground surface are sold and rented by private companies. However, collection is carried out by HSY.

Other fees related to waste containers

Moving distance of the waste container to the refuse truck

Waste containers must always be placed primarily in accordance with the waste management regulations so that the moving distance of the waste container to the refuse truck

does not exceed 10 metres. If emptying the waste container means that it must be moved manually by more than the 10 metres permitted by the waste management regulations, a moving fee will be charged for the distance exceeding 10 metres as follows:

Express delivery of waste containers within 1–2 weekdays

We deliver the waste containers to the property free of charge within seven weekdays; we charge separately for express delivery.

Damaged or lost waste containers

We replace rental containers that have been worn out or broken in use free of charge. We charge a fee for the replacement of burned or otherwise damaged or lost waste containers.

Other waste container fees

The rental fee includes rinsing of the waste container 1–2 times a year depending on the type of waste. If the waste container becomes very dirty before its annual rinsing, you can order a replacement for a clean container subject to a charge from our customer service.  

Padlocks to be ordered separately for waste containers are primarily intended for downtown Helsinki, not detached housing areas. The padlocks are a discretionary service of HSY.

*Please note that it is not possible to put a lining sack in the ventilated biowaste containers used in small properties due to their technical structure. The ventilated waste container, which has been developed for properties that produce little biowaste, keeps the waste drier. As a result, the emptying interval of the biowaste container can be up to four weeks in small properties. However, it is important to remember to pack the biowaste well.

Mixed waste

• Every residential property must have a collection service for mixed waste.
• The property can have its own service or a shared use agreement with another property.
• All new, plastic waste containers are rental containers from HSY. Switch from waste containers owned by the property to rental containers from HSY when the containers need to be replaced.
• The annual fee is calculated according to the number of times the waste containers are emptied in a year.

Waste container dimensions and instructions for planning the property’s waste collection point and choosing the containers: www.hsy.fi/en/waste-and-recycling/functional-waste-collection-point-on-property

Collection container options: See the Waste containers section of the price list.

Property cannot be reached by refuse truck? See the price list page Annual fee of a regional mixed waste collection point.

Our recommendations by property type

*Collection every 8 or 16 weeks requires that you have separate collection for biowaste or compost your biowaste. The collection fee for every 16 weeks is the same as for every 8 weeks. HSY must be notified of biowaste composting. More information on our website at hsy.fi/en/waste-and-recycling/composting-on-propertie.

Waste containers and skips

The collection fee consists of a transport and treatment fee. The refuse truck weighs the container when it is emptied. We charge a treatment fee based on the weight of the amount of generated waste.

When planning to acquire a container for the property, please contact our customer service.

Biowaste

According to the waste management regulations that entered into force on 1 November 2022, all residential properties (with the exception of holiday homes) must sort biowaste separately from mixed waste. The separate waste collection obligation for biowaste entered into force on 1 July 2023 in Espoo, Kauniainen and Kirkkonummi. It will enter into force on 1 January 2024 in Vantaa and on 1 July 2024 in Helsinki. Read more: www.hsy.fi/en/waste-and-recycling/biowastecollection.

You can order a biowaste container and collection for the property from us, or alternatively, you can compost the biowaste on the property in a composter intended for this purpose. Composting of food waste on the property must be reported to HSY’s compost register. More information and a form for submitting a composting notification: www.hsy.fi/en/waste-and-recycling/composting-on-properties

It is also possible to share a biowaste container or composter with your neighbours. Read more about the joint use of waste containers on our website.

• The rental fee of biowaste containers is included in the collection fee.
• It is possible to order a lining sack for closed biowaste containers.
• We always replace the lining sack in connection with collection.
• Lining sacks are not suitable for ventilated biowaste containers used in detached houses because they prevent ventilation.
• Our collection services also include institutional biowaste and liquid biowaste containers.  

Our recommendations by property type

Waste containers

The collection fee consists of a transport and treatment fee. The refuse truck weighs the container when it is emptied. We charge a treatment fee based on the weight of the amount of generated waste. The emptying of a deep container includes the installation of a lining sack if it is technically possible to install the sack in the container.

When planning to acquire a container for the property, please contact our customer service in advance.

Institutional kitchen biowaste

Biowaste generated in institutions is heavier than biowaste generated in households. 140-litre biowaste containers are primarily used for institutional kitchen biowaste. The rental fee of the biowaste container is included in the collection fee.

*The annual price in the table is an example of the annual fee of waste containers emptied four times a week.

**The annual fee for emptying waste containers is calculated according to the number of times they are emptied in a year.  

Liquid biowaste

Liquid biowaste is waste that is emptied from the property’s collection system by suction truck. Order emptying separately by contacting our customer service.

Carton packages and cardboard

Every residential property with five or more apartments must have collection for carton packages. For other residential properties, collection is voluntary. Cardboard can also be sorted into carton collection. In properties with 5–9 apartments, you can collect carton packages in a multi-compartment container for packaging.

We no longer sign new contracts concerning cardboard collection, cardboard waste can be sorted into the same collection as carton. The price consists of a transport fee and it does not include the waste container rental fee. All new, plastic waste containers are rental containers from HSY. Switch from waste containers owned by the property to rental containers from HSY when the containers need to be replaced.

More information: Waste containers

Collection services for carton packaging containers

Waste generated on the property can also be collected in a waste container. The price consists of a transport fee.

When planning to acquire a container for the property, please contact our customer service in advance.

Collection services for cage trolleys

If a lot of cardboard waste is generated on the property, large cardboard boxes can be collected in a rental cage trolley.

Plastic packages

Every residential property with five or more apartments must have collection for plastic packages. In properties with 5–9 apartments, you can also collect plastic packages in a multi-compartment container for packaging. For other properties, collection is voluntary.‍‍

Collection services for plastic packaging containers

The plastic containers of 140–360 litres are intended for properties with fewer than five apartments and the 660-litre containers for larger properties.

The price consists of a transport fee and it does not include the waste container rental fee. New waste containers must be rented from HSY. Switch from waste containers owned by the property to rental containers from HSY when the containers need to be replaced. Read more in the Waste containers section of the price list.

Collection services for plastic packaging containers

Waste generated on the property can also be collected in a waste container. The price consists of a transport fee.

When planning to acquire a container for the property, please contact our customer service in advance.

Glass packages and metal

Every residential property with five or more apartments must have collection for glass packages and small metal items. For other properties, collection is voluntary. In properties with 5–9 apartments, glass and metal can also be collected in a multi-compartment container for packaging.  

Collection services for glass packaging and metal containers

All new waste containers are ordered as rental containers from HSY. Switch from waste containers owned by the property to rental containers from HSY when the containers need to be replaced.

The rental fee of glass packaging and metal containers is included in the collection fee.

Collection services for glass packaging and metal containers

Waste generated on the property can also be collected in a waste container. The price consists of a transport fee.

When planning to acquire a container for the property, please contact our customer service.

Multi-compartment for packages

The multi-compartment for packages is intended for properties with 5–9 apartments. The four-compartment container has two larger compartments for plastic and carton packaging and two smaller compartments for small metal items and glass packaging.

A HSY multi-compartment container is included in the collection fee.

Read more at www.hsy.fi/en/waste-and-recycling/multi-compartment-container-packaging.

Excess waste outside the container

Excess waste is waste that is placed outside the container. Waste packed in a plastic sack is treated as mixed waste. Excess waste should be placed immediately next to the waste container. All material immediately next to the waste container is treated as excess waste.

Read more: Waste management regulations of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area and Kirkkonummi (Section 24)

Collection

• We can accept one cubic metre, or five refuse sacks, of excess waste at a time.
• One sack should weigh no more than 15 kilograms. For larger amounts, collection must be agreed on separately with our customer service.
• The minimum invoicing amount is 0.1 m³ (100 litres).

You can also order a pick-up service for large items. Read more in the Sortti pick-up section of the price list or on our website at hsy.fi/en/waste-and-recycling/sortti-pick-up-service-for-large-objects.

Christmas trees left in the property’s waste collection point or next to the waste containers are collected free of charge.

Fixed-term collection and interruptions

You may arrange to have the waste container or containers of your summer home, for example, emptied only during a specific period of time. During the summer holiday season (weeks 18 to 40), the waste containers of holiday homes that are only used in summer time must be emptied at the interval referred to in the waste management regulations.

If your property has a year-round waste management service and the property is unused for at least one week, waste collection can be interrupted for a specified period of time. Fixed-term interruption does not apply to summer season contracts. Please submit a notification to HSY no later than one week before the planned start of the interruption. If the interruption is longer than a year or there are more than two consecutive interruptions, an application for an exception to waste management regulations must be submitted.

If you live on a property with 1–4 apartments where biowaste is composted only during part of the year, you must order a HSY biowaste container and collection for the period when biowaste is not composted. In addition to mixed waste, biowaste must be sorted separately on all properties with 1–4 apartments (with the exception of holiday homes) as follows:

• Espoo, Kauniainen and Kirkkonummi as of 1 July 2023;
• Vantaa as of 1 January 2024; and
• Helsinki as of 1 July 2024.