The recycling ambassadors received top marks
We invited our residents to become recycling ambassadors as part of HSY’s Recycling Ambassador campaign. Over 60 residents took part, which was brilliant. They received excellent feedback on their work.
Last year, we celebrated a theme year dedicated to waste sorting and recycling. During the year we invited our residents to become recycling ambassadors as part of HSY’s Recycling Ambassador campaign. We invited all our residents interested in the topic to take part.
A great group signed up to become recycling ambassadors: 62 residents from 55 properties. The campaign yielded good results. More than half of the Recycling Ambassadors noticed changes in their neighbours’ sorting habits within a month. The sorting of bio-waste increased particularly in those properties where it had previously been done only to a limited extent. The amount of mixed waste decreased by an average of seven per cent.
The campaign received excellent ratings: 4.2/5 from residents and 4.6/5 from the recycling ambassadors.
The recycling ambassadors did a valuable job
At the start of the campaign, the recycling ambassadors attended a recycling information session organised by HSY or familiarised themselves with the materials at home. Afterwards, the recycling ambassadors distributed organic waste bags and waste guides to their neighbours.
The ambassadors were also encouraged to come up with their own ideas for activities in their own blocks of flats to inspire the neighbourhood to sort their waste. The recycling ambassadors were active in many ways. They distributed materials, discussed recycling, shared information on social media and reported any shortcomings in waste facilities. One ambassador even organised a themed event in their own block of flats.
A prize draw was held amongst the blocks of flats that took part in the campaign, with a prize of 400 euros to be used for residents’ activities. Feedback expressed a desire for the continuation of initiatives promoting recycling. The ambassadors were rewarded with cinema tickets and organic waste bags.
“For us, the best aspects of the theme year were the residents’ participation, the bold experiments encouraging sorting, and the varied communication on this important topic. This was a good start. Promoting waste sorting requires ongoing effort as we strive towards a 60 per cent recycling rate,” says Miia Veltheim, VAV’s Sustainability Manager.
Activities during the Year of Recycling and Sorting
The main aim of our theme year was to clarify and simplify waste sorting. To support this objective, we installed new, illustrated sorting guidelines designed by HSY in the waste collection areas of all our properties.
In addition, we communicated recycling-related content to residents throughout the year as part of our newsletter. Among other things, a multilingual sorting guide was distributed to residents along with the newsletter. We also encouraged our residents to think about sorting challenges through an informative sorting quiz.
The textile waste collection scheme, which had already been launched, was expanded. There are now textile collection bins in 19 of our properties, up from the previous five. During the reporting year, a total of over 13,600 kilograms of textiles – equivalent to almost a full lorryload – were sent for recycling from these collection points. The textile collection scheme is run in partnership with Finnish Textile Recycling
Activities during the theme year also included a pilot scheme for sorting bins in collaboration with one of our properties, organising SER collection in buildings as required, and encouraging the organisation of garden flea markets.
Towards the end of the year, we also organised a design competition requested by residents design competition was held, as requested by residents, seeking solutions for how to manage waste sorting in a small space. Over 10 entries were received for the competition. The winner was chosen via an online vote and awarded a gift voucher.
Improving recycling and waste sorting remains an important objective for VAV. We will be monitoring the impact of the theme year particularly closely in 2025.