Helsinki Region Environmental Services Authority (HSY) has reported a concerning issue: last year, approximately 800 tons of garbage, which should not have been there, ended up at its wastewater treatment plants. This waste, including toys, cell phones, and even dentures, gets caught in the early stage sieves, or 'välppä', of the treatment process.
The most common types of trash found in the sewage system are hand towels, biodegradable waste, and hygiene products like cotton swabs and tampons.