Someone has to take the first step
Today, there are many ways to recycle plastic. The most straightforward method is mechanical recycling – provided the plastic is of the same type and quality. HDPE plastic, which is well suited for recycling, makes up only about 7% of all packaging plastic. And only a fraction of that goes into making waste containers.
So why are waste containers still being incinerated instead of recycled? There are several reasons:
- Until now, Finland hasn’t had facilities that could handle waste containers.
- Recycling hasn’t been economically viable.
- It requires effort – cleaning, removing wheels and other parts.
- Disposal by garbage truck is easy and quick.
A new opportunity for recycling
All HDPE waste containers in Finland can now be recycled in a closed loop into brand new waste containers. That means real savings of natural resources, and emissions.
- 1 kg of recycled plastic saves 1.5 kg of CO₂ emissions compared to virgin plastic. Source
- One 240-liter waste container weighs approximately 10 kg, which means 15 kg of CO₂ savings per container.
- One truckload (900 containers) saves up to 13,500 kg of CO₂, which is equivalent to 96,000 km of driving. Source
Public procurement holds the key
In 2024, an estimated 1.6 million kilograms of waste containers were put out to tender in Finland. Not one of these tenders required recycled material as a main criterion. The Procurement Act doesn’t yet push hard enough for recycled content.
Meanwhile, Finland generates 370,000 tonnes of plastic waste every year – less than 15% is recycled. And that figure doesn’t even include waste containers.
Change happens when we act together
When several actors share the same vision, anything is possible. Kesrec, ESE GmbH, Finncont and PWS together now offer a closed loop for waste containers.
Someone has to be the first. Will it be you?