Summer cottage season is here – new guidelines help reduce environmental impacts
Many people relax by spending time at their summer cottage. At the same time, cottage life requires responsible choices, especially regarding wastewater treatment, waste management and wood burning. The City of Espoo wants to ensure that holiday homes put as little strain on nature as possible. That is why the city has compiled a clear and up-to-date information package on its website about the most important environmental issues related to cottage life.
Ensure proper wastewater treatment
A holiday home must have a wastewater system suitable for the property. To ensure proper operation, the system must be regularly monitored and maintained. Operating and maintenance instructions, as well as documentation about the system, must be kept on the property.
Wastewater systems function with the help of bacteria that break down impurities in wastewater. That is why you should not put anything in the drain that could interfere with this process, such as solvents, strong chemicals or fats. Separating washing water (greywater) and toilet wastewater (blackwater) improves purification results. A dry toilet is a particularly suitable solution in the archipelago.
Remember waste management at the cottage too
In Espoo, holiday homes are covered by the waste management services organised by Helsinki Region Environmental Services (HSY). The amount of mixed waste can be reduced by also recycling at the cottage.
Garden waste can be composted without notification, but composting of food waste and faecal waste must be reported to HSY. Composting must be carried out using suitable, closed composters.
Burn wood cleanly
When burning wood, the key is clean combustion. This is achieved by using dry wood, proper ignition techniques and a regularly swept fireplace. If the smoke is light or colourless, the combustion is clean. Dark smoke, on the other hand, indicates incomplete burning.
Burning waste is prohibited. However, small-scale burning of garden waste is allowed outside built-up areas under separately defined conditions.
Choose easy solutions, especially on islands
Managing wastewater and waste at holiday homes located on islands requires special planning, as HSY does not empty tanks or bins without road access. For island cottages, the most suitable wastewater systems are those that require minimal maintenance. These include, for example, dry toilets and lightweight greywater systems such as soil filtration or infiltration systems, ready-made greywater filters or simple stone-based filtration beds for small amounts of water. Waste management on islands can be arranged through mainland waste bins, marina waste collection points or Sortti stations.