The recycling centre of Pori is at present running a project called RecyTech, which aims at utilizing all parts of so-called "white line" products.
Photo: Matti Roininen
Pori was the first municipality in Finland to systematically start assessing the environmental impacts of public procurements. The project was started in 1992 as a joint initiative between the environmental protection and procurement departments. In the beginning, the main focus was on cleaning, catering, nursing, administration, building and maintenance. Also training and publicity were emphasized as it is important to have the principles of sustainable development well understood and to reduce possible resistance among staff and suppliers.
Durability, repairability and recyclability
The new system means that unnecessary consumption is avoided, waste production is minimized and the life of products prolonged. In practice, in choosing products the environmental key issues are durability, reparability and returnability of the product as well as the recyclability of packaging materials and the final disposal of used products.
Concrete results
The following changes, for example have taken place in purchasing:
• the use of paper has decreased due to e-mail
• all printing is made on environmentally friendly paper
• paper recycling is almost 100 %
• the use of biodegradable chemicals has increased (hydraulic oils, detergents)
• the use of nonpacked food has increased and waste from kitchens has decreased 90%
• the use of one-way products has been reduced and in many cases abandoned totally
• the use of spray cans has been abandoned
• detergent concentrates are preferred
The following changes have been made in working methods:
• metal structures are treated with zinc instead of painting • a recycling centre for administration has started in the city´s computer network • the town has purchased 5000 reusable plastic beer mugs, which are rented for public events, e.g. festivals and fairs • Pori harbour, Pori power plant and the municipal waste water treatment plant have started to create environmental managing systems • environmental impact assessment is undertaken always when something significant is planned (city planning) or built
Agenda 21 activities
At the moment the City of Pori is also active in Agenda 21 work together with six neighbouring municipalities, NGO´s and industry. A sustainable development project group has been working with environmental education among city staff. Also, the public has been informed by articles in newspapers as well as through lectures.The city is delighted to notice that environmental considerations are increasingly being taken into account by companies as well. The internationally known Pori Jazz Festival, for instance, has incorporated the concept of sustainable development into their activities. In many cases the project has also affected the supplier´s product range with the result that the supplier has started offering more sustainable products.
For more information, please contact Mr Matti Lankiniemi or Mr Juha Manninen at the Environmental Protection Office of City of Pori, fax: +358 2 621 1210 or have a look at the homepage of Pori.
