Composting
Composting on the Property
Composting of biowaste (food waste) and garden waste generated on the property is allowed. When biowaste is composted in the home yard, it can be utilized at its place of origin. By sorting biowaste, you also save on waste costs as the amount of mixed waste decreases and the emptying interval of the mixed waste container can be extended.
Biowaste may only be composted in a closed and well-ventilated composter designed for that purpose, which prevents access by pests. A pest-protected composter means that the composter has a closable lid, a tight bottom, and no gaps larger than 7 mm. Reproductive parts of plants classified as invasive species must not be placed in the composter.
The composter must be insulated if biowaste is placed in the composter during the winter period (September 1 – April 30). The composter must be maintained so that food waste composts properly and the composter is in proper condition. The volume of the composter must be sufficient, taking into account the slowdown in composting caused by cold seasons.
Dry toilet waste, pet feces, and small treatment plant sludge may be composted in a closed and well-ventilated composter designed for that purpose. The compost must be protected from pests, and the entry of leachate into the ground must be prevented. The composting time for fecal waste is at least one year. If dry toilet waste is not composted, it must be delivered to a reception point.
Garden waste and small amounts of biodegradable filter materials from gray water filters may be composted in a composter and compost bin. The composter must not be emptied until the waste has decomposed. The decomposed compost can be further composted outside the composter with sufficient care.
Notification to Authorities about Food Waste Composting
A notification must be made to the authorities about the composting of food waste and the cessation of composting. The notification must be made in writing to the waste management authority of the Lahti region. The notification must also be made for the composting of food waste at leisure homes.
Make a notification also when food waste is composted only part of the year, for example, during the summer season. After making the notification, you can agree with the waste collection company’s customer service on extending the emptying interval of the mixed waste container. The composting notification is valid for 5 years. Note that no notification is required for the composting of garden waste alone.
The start and cessation of food waste composting must be notified to the waste management authority of the Lahti region within two months of the start or cessation of food waste composting on the property.
Make a composting notification if it has not been made previously or if the notification was made before January 1, 2022. A composting notification made before January 1, 2022, must be renewed to ensure that all information required by the new waste law about composting is reported to the waste management authority.
If you find winter composting difficult when the composter freezes and the volume of the composter is insufficient for all bio-waste, you can order the emptying of the bio-waste container for only part of the year, for example, from October to March. Remember to mention this to our customer service when making the agreement.
Note that Bokashi composting or worm composting alone does not meet the criteria for extending the emptying interval of the mixed waste container beyond 4 weeks. Bio-waste pre-treated with the Bokashi method is not yet soil but requires further treatment (composting in a composter). Not all bio-waste generated at home or in a cottage can be placed in a worm composter, so a worm composter alone is not sufficient to meet the composting criteria required in the composting notification.
The longest emptying interval for mixed waste is 4 weeks if food waste ends up in the mixed waste. The emptying interval for mixed waste can be up to 16 weeks if the property has separate collection of biowaste or biowaste is composted and a composting notification has been made. The extension of the emptying interval is agreed with the waste collection company.
The composter can also be shared by several properties or apartments. Properties located next to each other or within 300 meters of the shared composter can use a shared composter. The use of a shared composter is reported to the waste management authority of the Lahti region with a composting notification. The responsible person for the composter, who is responsible for the composting of biowaste, reports the shared composter.