Government Decision on packaging and packaging waste (No. 962 of 1997).

The purpose of this Decision is to reduce the environmental harm caused by packaging and packaging waste, and to prevent barriers to trade and distortion and restriction of competition. The primary aim is to prevent the generation of packaging waste; the other aims are to reuse packaging, and to recycle and otherwise recover packaging wastes in order to reduce their final disposal. This Decision applies to packaging placed on the Finnish market and consumed here, and to the packaging waste generated. It sets minimum standards for waste generated in relation to the volume of packed products consumed in Finland and recycling and recovering of waste. It defines in general duties of packers, of economic operators to cooperate in waste management, of municipalities and transporters of waste. Under waste transport scheme, the producer of the packaging waste shall sort the waste and deliver it to a collection point on the relevant property or elsewhere if so prescribed in the municipal waste management regulations. Article 11 provides for waste management cooperation between packers, local authorities and transporters. Rules relative to packaging and labeling of goods for purposes of waste prevention are prescribed. The waste plan referred to in section 40 of the Waste Act shall include a section concerning packaging and packaging waste, explaining how the aims of this Decision will be attained. The Schedule specifies essential requirements concerning the composition and reusability and recoverability of packaging.