Frequently asked questions

I own a property that is not used at all. Do I still have to pay waste fees? 

According to the Waste Act (646/2011), all residential and recreational properties are obliged to connect to the municipal waste management system. Only unusable properties can be exempted from this obligation. However, for unused properties, it is possible to apply for a reduction in waste charges (user of a regional collection point) or an interruption of waste transport (own waste container).  

What is the basic waste management fee and why does it have to be paid even for unused properties?  

The basic fee is a fee invoiced once a year based on the Waste Act (Waste Act 646/2011, Chapter 9, Waste Management Fees) and is used to finance statutory waste management services such as utility and costs of hazardous waste processing, investments in the reception network, costs of administration, information and advice, and the development of waste management for useful and hazardous waste. 

The fee is levied on all residential buildings suitable for residential use. 

Why does waste management need to be organized separately at the cottage? 

The obligation to belong to the municipal waste management system and the resulting waste fees are property-specific. The fact that the same person owns and pays waste fees for one property does not affect the waste fees for other properties owned by the same person. 

Does biowaste have to be sorted? 

The waste management regulations of South Karelia require the sorting of biowaste in all residential and leisure properties throughout the entire region of South Karelia. If there is no transport service for biowaste or it is not taken to the biowaste containers at regional collection points, it must be composted in a composter in accordance with the waste management regulations (Section 19).  

I spend the summers at my cottage full-time/I live abroad in the winters, how should I organize waste management?  

If the property is used repeatedly only during the summer or winter season, the property can only be agreed to have the waste container emptied for those periods (summer season 1.5.–31.10. or winter season 1.11.–30.4.). 

The emptying schedule can be agreed with Etelä-Karjalan Jätehuolto Oy in accordance with their transport schedule. Emptyings continue as agreed from one summer or winter season to the next.  

I recycle everything I can, so there is very little dry waste. Can I get a longer emptying interval?  

If the amount of dry waste generated on the property is justifiably exceptionally low, the property can apply for a derogation permit from the waste management authority to extend the emptying interval of the dry waste container to 16 weeks. 

When making the decision, the amount of dry waste generated, the number of residents in the property, and waste sorting are taken into account, among other things.