Hazardous waste

Hazardous waste must always be separated from other waste and delivered to a waste station. Hazardous waste must not be:

• left in nature
• emptied into a sewer
• buried underground
• put in a waste container for combustible waste

It is best to keep hazardous waste in its original packaging. The contents must be clearly marked on the containers. Hazardous waste of different kinds must not be mixed.

The most common types of household hazardous waste are:

• batteries, button-cell batteries and small rechargeable batteries
• fluorescent tubes, small fluorescent lamps and energy-saving lamps
• alkaline detergents
• paint, glue, varnish and resin residues as well as wood preservatives and impregnating agents that have not dried
• pressure impregnated timber (more information under waste wood)
• solvents (turpentine, thinner, acetone and detergents containing solvents)
• disinfectants and control substances such as pesticides and herbicides
• strong acids such as sulphuric acid
• New Year tin castings
• medicine, and fever thermometers containing mercury
• photographic chemicals
• aerosol cans
• waste oil (in containers that can be emptied by hand, not in barrels) and other oily waste (cleaning wool, oil filters)
• hydraulic hoses (to a waste station in sections of 50 cm)
• vehicle coolants and brake and clutch fluids
• lead-acid batteries
• fire extinguishers that still contain some powder
• asbestos (information about its treatment and reception under special waste)

All small volumes of ordinary household hazardous waste (less than 100 litres/100 kg) are accepted at waste stations free of charge. Waste oil in barrels is not accepted at all waste stations; instead, it must be in containers that can be emptied by hand. Ilmajoki waste station accepts larger volumes of waste oil up to 600 litres, and oil can also be brought there in barrels with an opening for emptying them.

Medicine, needles, syringes and fever thermometers containing mercury

A maximum of 20 litres at a time of needles and syringes are accepted at waste stations and some pharmacies free of charge, packed into a plastic bottle, for example.

Out of date and unused medicines and fever thermometers containing mercury can be returned to a pharmacy free of charge.

When returning medicine and fever thermometers, they must be separated from each other.

Asbestos

Waste containing asbestos dust and fibres is classed as hazardous waste, which requires special handling. Structures containing asbestos must be charted and removed from buildings to be demolished. For example, the following may contain asbestos:

• the insulation material of old heating pipes and ventilation ducts
• fire resistant insulation, damp-proof course and sound insulation
• floor tiles and roof slates
• a building’s facing (e.g. building slabs containing asbestos)
• felt roofing of old houses

All asbestos removal work must be contracted to a demolition company that has been granted an asbestos removal licence by the occupational safety and health authorities. The demolition company’s responsibilities include:

• reporting the starting of asbestos removal work
• supplying the occupational safety and health authorities with a working plan
• dismantling waste, marking it and packing it tightly
• making sure the waste is safely delivered to a landfill site

No other waste must be mixed in with asbestos.

Packing asbestos

Asbestos must be packed so that the packaging does not break at any stage of the treatment. Whatever the volume, asbestos waste absolutely must be packed into fibre reinforced bags or other sacks that are equally durable, or into sheeting or tarpaulin. The package must be tightly taped or tied around the asbestos. The package must always be marked with the text: “ASBESTIJÄTE, pölyn hengittäminen vaarallista / ASBESTAVFALL, farlig att inandas”.