Non-redeemable metal cans clog Vantaa waste plant

Summer sees many people snapping open a can for a long cool drink. That seasonal thirst causes many non-redeemable aluminum cans – many of them from Estonia -- to end up in mixed waste bins. Mixed waste from the capital region most often ends up in Vantaa’s new waste treatment facility – and that’s where it causes problems.

“In practice aluminum melts in our furnace and can jam the machine. It also blocks the ash conveyors and this creates extra costs for us,” said Kalle Patomeri, Vantaa Energy project director.

When the power plant was still in its testing phase, power plant officials noticed that many cans were ending up in the waste disposal facility. As a result they encouraged consumers to redouble their recycling efforts.

“As a recyclable aluminum is a very valuable material so we hoped that people would put their cans in the deposit return machines, even if they don’t get any money for them,” Patomeri said.

Helsinki Regional Environmental Services Authority HSY is advising consumers to take their used cans to metal disposal points if they find that they’ve purchased the non-redeemable variety. Waste plant passes reliability test.

The Vantaa waste plant has been put through its paces since earlier this spring, the two-month long trial wrapped up at the end of June.

Apart from the issues caused by molten cans, officials encountered no problems, clearing the way for the plant to assume normal operations.

In addition to eliminating mixed waste the facility will create electricity and heating for the area however, it won’t be formally commissioned until the autumn after performance tests are completed in August.

The new waste disposal plant -- the largest in Finland to date -- is expected to process 320,000 tons of capital city waste each year.