Garden waste belongs in a compost bin or Sortti Station
It is prohibited to dispose of garden waste in city-owned forests, meadows and parks.
Unfortunately, some people dispose of their garden waste, such as leaves, brushwood and plant waste, in public forests, meadows, parks and water areas. This is prohibited. Garden waste affects the forest floor and soil, resulting in the growth of plants like nettle and mugwort, which do not normally grow in forests.
Brushwood and pieces of perennial plants take root and start spreading in the wild as so-called escaped plants. Soil affected by garden waste provides ideal growing conditions for invasive species, such as Japanese rose, balsam, Asian knotweed and garden lupine. Surplus apples left in nature attract rats.
You can compost garden waste in your own yard or take the waste to a Sortti Station. If there is a separate collection bin for biodegradable waste on the property, HSY’s collection vehicles can take small amounts of garden waste for composting. If the bin is too heavy, the waste collector may have difficulties moving it, or it may break during emptying. You can take large amounts of garden waste and surplus seasonal fruit to a Sortti Station.
For more information, contact Espoo’s Environmental Protection customer service (ymparisto@espoo.fi) or visit the website(external link, opens in a new window) of Helsinki Region Environmental Services.