Recycle your old items responsibly and correctly
Do you have clothes, furniture or other items in your home that you do not want to throw out but you do not know where you should take them? Do you know what must not be taken to the waste container area of a rental home? Read more on how to recycle items that can be reused and items that are broken.
“Recycling is encouraged by SATO,” says our Corporate Responsibility Advisor Tiina Lehti. “You’ll find a recycling point or waste container area at your building, and recycling is already taken into account in SATO homes during the construction stage.”
“You should, however, note that even through there is a recycling point at your building, there are some types of items and waste that you cannot take there,” Tiina adds.
Do not throw out anything that is unbroken
Items will get a new lease of life at reuse centres and flea markets. You can donate unbroken and clean items such as furniture, clothes and kitchenware – just remember that they must be in a sellable condition. You can also donate cosmetics and hygiene products provided that the packages are unused and unopened.
In addition to donating, you can give items to your friends or sell them. For example, it is a good idea to sell on children’s clothes, as there is always demand for them. Selling old clothes and items is easy on platforms such as Facebook groups.
When you buy things second hand you also save money.
“Recycling and reuse of items that are in good condition saves natural resources. Buying recycled products for your home is also an excellent option in terms of your finances,” Tiina adds. You can find bargains that will not break the bank at flea markets. Second-hand clothes can be bought at flea markets and online.
If you are into crafts or DIY, you can upcycle your old things. Upcycling means transforming old items by giving them a new use or improving their quality.
See here where you can take your recyclables!
What must not be taken to the waste container area?
You must not take furniture, electronics or hazardous waste to the waste container area. If you are giving away an item such as a piece of furniture, do not store it in the waste container area or on the building grounds. Electrical appliances such as microwave ovens and coffee makers must be taken to a waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) collection point, which can also be found at stores selling electrical and electronic equipment.
Hazardous waste includes:
- accumulators and batteries
- paints
- waste vehicle oils
- expired medicines and medical syringes and needles
- pressure receptacles containing gas
- fluorescent tubes
- explosives, such as fireworks.
Accumulators and batteries are hazardous waste that needs to be taken to a battery collection box intended for them. Since batteries and accumulators involve a risk of fire, they must never be put in a mixed waste container. Medicines and medical syringes in turn must be taken to a pharmacy.
Use a pickup service
A pickup service is a hassle-free way of getting rid of all your recyclable items in one go. For example, the prices charged for pickup services by the Helsinki Metropolitan Area Reuse Centre start from €19.90. Fida secondhand offers a free pickup service in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area, Tampere and Lahti. Pickups are also available from Turun Ekotori Reuse Centre, with the prices starting from €28. Tampere Reuse Centres will pick up sellable items for free.
In the Helsinki Metropolitan Area, you can use the Sortti pickup service for large items such as furniture. The Sortti pickup service is subject to a charge and available for broken as well as unbroken items. If necessary, you can also take broken items and waste to a Sortti Station by yourself.
Sources: SER-kierrätys, Pirkanmaan kierrätys, Turun Ekotori, HSY ja Vaarallinenjäte.fi