Kiertokaari Ltd’s vision is to strengthen sustainable responsibility in the North. Our operating model is based on the values of responsibility, client-centeredness, and courage.

We are in charge of waste treatment and waste sorting guidance within our operating area. In our partner municipalities, we are also responsible for organizing the transport of bio and packaging waste in urban areas.

Kiertokaari has eight partner municipalities:

• Hailuoto
• Ii
• Kempele
• Lumijoki
• Oulu
• Pudasjärvi
• Raahe
• Siikajoki.

In addition the operating area also includes the municipality of Simo. The largest partner is the City of Oulu (91%).

Key numbers from 2024

• Turnover 21.3 Eur M
• Profit for the financial period 205 415 Eur
• Permanent staff 39
• Residents in the operating area 287 000

Key events in 2024

In the year 2024, the final stages of the new Waste Act came into force. The expanded obligation to sort biowaste in detached houses came into effect in July. We campaigned for the start of the sorting obligation through multiple channels and organized over 30 information sessions in libraries within our operational area.

The expansion of the sorting obligation was reflected in the increase in the amount of collected biowaste. We received 31.2 kilograms of biowaste per resident from households (28 kg in 2023 and 27.8 kg in 2022).

The amount of bio waste gathered per resident 2022-2024

New self-service lane in Pudasjärvi

We improved the flexibility of visits to the waste station by opening a self-service lane IPA at the Pudasjärvi waste station. The self-service station was also piloted at the Hartaanselänranta Housing Fair area, where builders of detached houses in the area can sort their waste near the construction site independently.

A new trial of a weighing waste truck was started in Pudasjärvi. The waste truck has a scale that weighs waste containers before and after emptying the container. Accurate information on waste quantities may bring future credits to customers.

In accordance with the decision of the Market Court in January 2024, we started the re-tendering of waste transport. We prepared for the tendering by organizing two market dialogues for transport companies. Waste transport continued with temporary contracts with the transport companies that won the tendering in spring 2023.

Update in environmental permit

Rusko waste management center was granted a new environmental permit defining our operating methods. The permit has been updated with waste reception and storage quantities, including composting and growing medium production, as well as contaminated soil treatment operations.

We conducted two sorting studies, one examining the composition of mixed waste sorted at home. About 28.5 percent of the contents of the mixed waste bags contained biowaste.

The other study examined the composition of construction waste at the Rusko waste management center’s sorting arena Lare and the self-service waste station at the Housing Fair area.

Reduction system improves the reliability of gas supply

A pressure reduction system was installed at the Rusko biogas refueling station, improving the reliability of gas supply. Thanks to this, gas stored in gas containers can be utilized in emergency situations. We replaced a total of approximately two million liters of fossil fuels with biogas, both as a transport fuel and in industry.

We received a good overall rating of 4.3 (on a scale of 1–5) from our customers for our services in the customer survey conducted in November–December.

Waste received

• Total amount of waste received: 224 426 tons
• Amount of municipal waste: 90 709 tons

We received altogether 224 426 tons of various materials in 2024 (225 115 tons in 2023, 248 574 tons in 2022, and 198 777 tons in 2021).

We received 90 709 tons altogether of municipal waste, of which almost 100 percent was utilized as energy and for other purposes. The amount of finally disposed waste was so small that the percentage of it was barely above zero.

The amount of total municipal waste received by Kiertokaari has decreased since the year 2020. We received 157 kilos of mixed waste per resident from our properties in the year 2024 (169 kg 2023, 186 kg in 2022).

We received 31.2 kilos of bio waste per resident in 2024 (28 kg in 2023, 27.8 kg in 2022 and 28.6 kg in 2021).

The amount of mixed waste gathered per resident 2022-2024