Finland’s Trash Imports & Waste-to-Energy Policy
In recent years, Finland—including the municipality of Loviisa—has seen a sharp rise in imported waste, especially from southern Italy, to fuel its waste-to-energy plants. From 2022 to 2024, Finland’s waste imports tripled, totaling around 450,000 tonnes in 2024. Southern Italy, particularly Sicily and Campania, became the largest exporter of this trash.
Loviisa’s Port of Valkom: The Local Outcry
Some of this imported waste passes through the port of Valkom in Loviisa, where it’s then incinerated. However, local residents voiced strong complaints:
The odor from the waste made summer unbearable for residents—one family avoided letting children play outside for the entire season.
A court ruling also warned of elevated levels of Legionella bacteria found at the port—posing health concerns such as Legionnaires’ disease.
The Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) responded by implementing visual inspections of waste before transport or processing, aiming to catch unwanted or hazardous materials earlier in the process.
National Debate: Trash Burning vs. Circular Economy
Finland’s booming waste-to-energy strategy has raised broader concerns:
Environmentalists and the EU Commission have warned that increasing incineration risks undermining recycling efforts, and also contributes to air emissions.
Finland currently has more incineration capacity than needed, prompting a heated debate about whether trash is being burned for financial gain rather than sustainable planning.
A Contrast: Responsible Nuclear Waste Management at the Loviisa NPP
Meanwhile, Loviisa hosts Finland’s Loviisa Nuclear Power Plant (NPP), where waste handling follows strict protocols:
(Waste Category + Handling Method)
Conventional industrial waste: Prevented, recycled, or treated responsibly
Low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste: Treated on-site, solidified, and stored in a 110m-deep final repository
Spent fuel (high-level waste): Stored pending final disposal in Eurajoki’s Posiva facility
In 2023, the Finnish Government extended the operating license for Loviisa’s LLW/ILW disposal facility until 2090, allowing it to manage waste from both operations and future dismantling.
Final Thoughts
The situation in Loviisa encapsulates a broader tension in environmental policy:
On one side, Finland’s waste-to-energy model—and the associated economic incentives—has led to unintended local consequences, such as unpleasant odors and potential health hazards.
On the other side, nuclear waste management at the Loviisa NPP exemplifies a highly controlled, safety-oriented process under public supervision.
Loviisa’s “burning trash activity” reflects the challenges of balancing regional energy strategies, environmental integrity, and the well-being of residents.
Read more on Euroweeklynews.com, SYKE.fi, WNN.org, YLE.fi
