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Finland achieved a new milestone in recycling efforts last year, with citizens returning more than 2.2 billion deposit-based beverage containers, marking the highest number ever recorded. This significant increase, nearly 39 million more than in 2022, underscores the country’s commitment to recycling and the efficiency of its return system. Among the returned items, cans were the most popular, with over 1.4 billion units recycled, followed by plastic bottles at over 662 million and glass bottles at 125 million.
On average, every Finn returned 392 beverage containers to recycling machines last year, a testament to the national dedication to environmental sustainability. “Reaching a new record is always a cause for celebration and indicates the Finnish desire to recycle bottles and cans. It also speaks to the effectiveness of our beverage container recycling system,” said Tommi Vihavainen, director of Palpa, the organization responsible for managing the recycling of deposit-based beverage containers.
The Lapland region saw the highest return rate per capita, with 527 containers per resident, highlighting regional differences influenced by tourism and the prevalence of holiday homes. In contrast, Åland had the lowest rate with 298 returns per resident.
The disparities extend to urban areas as well, with Pori leading the charge among Finland’s 20 largest cities, boasting 521 returns per capita. Espoo, on the other hand, had the lowest rate among the major cities, with 307 per resident.
This extensive recycling effort is facilitated by Finland’s network of 4,000 return points, ensuring convenience for citizens across the country. “In Finland, the location of the return point doesn’t matter. What’s important is that used bottles and cans are returned for recycling, from which new packages are made,” Vihavainen emphasized.
This achievement not only reflects the public’s commitment to environmental stewardship but also highlights the success of Finland’s recycling infrastructure in promoting a circular economy.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
