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

We are in charge of waste management and waste sorting advice 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 2025

• Turnover 23.5 Eur M
• Profit for the financial period 1.1 Eur M
• Permanent staff 47
• Residents in the operating area 288 000

Waste received

• Total amount of waste received: approximately 190 600 tons
• Amount of municipal waste: approximately 82 000 tons

All of the municipal waste received was utilized as energy and for other purposes. The amount of total municipal waste received by Kiertokaari has decreased since the year 2020. We received 144 kilos of mixed waste per resident from our properties in the year 2025 (157 kg in 2024, 169 kg 2023, 186 kg in 2022).

The amount of mixed waste gathered per resident 2022-2024

Amount of collected biowaste increased. We received 33.7 kilograms of biowaste per resident from households (31.2 kg in 2024, 28 kg in 2023 and 27.8 kg in 2022). Still, there is lot to do in increasing waste sorting. We conducted a sorting study examining the composition of mixed waste sorted at home. About 27.2 percent of the contents of the mixed waste bags contained biowaste. The amount of biowaste decreased by 1.3 percentage points compared to 2024. Mixed waste accounted for 25.7%, plastic for 15.9%, and paper (including tissue paper) for 9.5%.

The amount of bio waste gathered per resident 2022-2025

Key events in 2025

The year 2025 was a milestone year for Kiertokaari: it marked 30 years since the start of municipal waste management in the Oulu region. The anniversary year was reflected above all in active engagement with customers and a wide range of development work.

We piloted a new waste management model in the housing fair area in Oulu Hartaanselänranta. There residents can bring recyclable household waste to neighbourhood collection points close to their homes. At the same time, we piloted a new Pay as you throw model, where residents pay only for the waste they generate. The pilot provides valuable insights into whether price incentives encourage waste reduction.

Progress in the green transition continued at a strong pace. We replaced a total of approximately 2,3 million liters of fossil fuels with biogas, both as a transport fuel and in industry.

The tendering process for the new waste transport contracts completed

A significant step was the start of construction of the self-service station IPA at the Rusko waste management centre. IPA will be opened to customers during summer 2026 and will enable transactions in waste management center around the clock, even during the holidays.

Construction of the self-service station started in Oulu.

In accordance with the decision of the Market Court in January 2024, the new tendering process for waste transport contracts was completed towards the end of the year. In early 2025, we entered into a cooperation agreement for the tendering process with Sansia Oy, a public sector procurement unit.

The first new contract under the tender commenced in Raahe in December, and the remaining transport contracts will begin in spring and summer 2026. Our waste transport contractors will be Haurun Jäteauto Ltd, Jätehuolto Matti Nuojua Ltd, Kempeleen Jätekuljetus Ltd, L&T Ympäristöpalvelut Ltd, Remeo Ltd and Verdis Ltd.