Sorting of invasive plants at Kivikko
We are piloting a separate collection for invasive plants at the Kivikko Sortti Station during the 2026 growing season. The aim of the trial is to enable invasive plant waste to be directed to biorecycling and to reduce the amount of plant waste and plastic that ends up in mixed waste.
Invasive plants can be brought for separate collection to the Kivikko Sortti Station, to the garden waste reception area. Plants may be packed in plastic bags or garbage bags for transport, but the bags must be removed before sorting so that the waste can be recycled as biowaste. Biodegradable bags do not need to be removed.
In particular, the parts of the plant that allow invasive species to spread must be sorted as invasive plant waste. Plants can spread, for example, through seeds, berries, roots and pieces of root. Branches and stems from invasive shrubs and trees may be sorted as normal brushwood waste if they do not contain spreading parts of the plant.
A garden waste fee in accordance with the price list is charged for receiving invasive plants: €5.30 per load for households and €8.40 per load for businesses. The waste fee covers the costs of transport and processing.
More information about invasive plant species can be found in our Waste Guide and on the Vieraslajit.fi website.
Yes, please
- All invasive plants
- Stems, roots, seeds, berries, flowers
- Soil attached to the roots
No, thank you
- Plastic bags and garbage bags
- Mixed waste
- Loose soil
- Spanish slugs
Remember to protect yourself properly
Wear protective gloves and long-sleeved clothing when unloading the load, especially if it contains plants that are hazardous to touch (such as hogweeds) or thorny shrubs (such as Japanese rose).
What to do
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1
Pack invasive plant waste for transport
Pack the waste into reusable bags or garbage bags. You can also carefully cover a pallet load with a top or tarpaulin. Plant material must not be allowed to spread into the environment during transport.
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2
Bring the load to the Kivikko Sortti Station
The collection container for invasive plant waste is located in the garden waste reception area. The container is closed and equipped with hatches to prevent plants from spreading from the collection point.
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3
Sort the plants into the container without plastic bags
Open one of the hatches and empty the invasive plant load into the container. Do not place waste packed in plastic bags inside. Make sure no plant material or seeds remain outside the container. Close the hatch after use.
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4
Sort plastic bags separately
There are separate collection containers for plastic bags in the area. Clean plastic bags and sacks in good condition can also be reused.
What is done with invasive plants?
When collected separately, the nutrients contained in invasive plants can be recovered and the plant material can be used in the same way as biowaste. In the biowaste treatment process at the Ämmässuo eco‑industrial centre, the seeds and roots are destroyed, and the waste is used to produce biogas, fertiliser and compost.