Environmental Services

A company that carries out waste collection on a professional basis must notify the municipal environmental authorities of its activities. Based on the notification, the authorities will register the company in the waste management register. The company can include in the same notification information about all receiving locations to which it delivers waste for intermediate storage.An operator carrying out professional waste collection must keep records of collected waste, including information on waste type, quality, hazardous properties of hazardous waste, quantity, origin and delivery location, as well as waste transport and treatment. This information must be kept for six years.

Issued by: Municipal Environmental Protection Authority / Licensing and Supervisory Authority (LVV)

A noise and vibration notification must be submitted in advance to the municipal environmental protection authority if the activity causes particularly disturbing noise or vibration. Those required to notify include, for example, builders and outdoor event organizers. Particularly disturbing noise or vibration can arise from, for example, construction, outdoor concerts, motor sports competitions, blasting, stone crushing and piling.The cause of the disturbance must also inform in advance about the noise or vibration to all residents, daycare centres and schools, care facilities and other possible targets within the impact area. If the activity extends to the area of several municipalities, the notification is made to the Permit and Supervision Authority (LVV).

Issued by: Municipal environmental protection authority

An operator must submit a written notification to the municipal health protection authority of the supply or use of household water in the water distribution zone. The notification applies to situations where the operator does not have their own water production or treatment.Supply of household water only applies, for example, when a water cooperative distributes household water purchased from elsewhere to its partners. Use of household water applies when an operator abstracts household water with their own equipment and uses it as part of their public or commercial operations.

Issued by: Municipal health protection authority

Businesses that collect or receive waste in Finland need either registration or an environmental permit depending on the scale of operations. If you operate collection points, sorting facilities, or waste reception stations, you must comply with the Waste Act and Environmental Protection Act before starting your business.Small-scale waste collection requires a notification to the municipal environmental authority. Larger operations that involve storage or treatment of waste typically need an environmental permit from the Finnish Supervisory Agency (LVV). You must also ensure proper record-keeping and reporting of waste volumes and types handled at your facility.

Issued by: Municipal Environmental Protection Authority / Finnish Supervisory Agency (LVV)

A property that has not connected to the public wastewater sewer and has not applied for exemption from the connection obligation can apply for a permit to deviate from wastewater treatment requirements for a maximum of five years at a time. The permit can be granted if the resident is elderly or has special reasons related to health, finances, or life situation.A condition for the permit is that the environmental load from wastewater is very minor. A granted permit lapses if the property starts producing more wastewater than before or if the property is sold or its holder changes for another reason.

Issued by: Municipal environmental protection authority

If you operate a facility that supplies household water and has its own water production or treatment, you must apply for approval from the municipal health protection authority at least three months before starting operations. Wholesale facilities that sell water to household water suppliers without serving end users must also obtain approval. The facility may not begin operations before receiving the approval decision.Approval ensures that water supply and quality meet the requirements of the Health Protection Act (terveydensuojelulaki). Facilities supplying at least 10 cubic metres per day or serving at least 50 people must also prepare a risk management plan in cooperation with the municipal health protection authority. The plan covers the entire water supply chain from source to tap.

Issued by: Municipal health protection authority

Operators undertaking activities that affect the environment have the obligation to register their activities in the environmental protection information system. Operations may commence once the municipal environmental authority has registered the activity or 30 or 60 days have passed since filing the notification, depending on the sector.Activities subject to registration include energy production in facilities under 50 megawatts, distribution of liquid fuels, asphalt production, chemical laundries, activities using organic solvents, and concrete stations and concrete product factories. During registration, the authority ensures that the operator complies with appropriate environmental protection requirements.

Issued by: Municipal environmental authority

Under the Environmental Protection Act, activities that involve the risk of environmental pollution require an environmental permit. A permit must be obtained if the activity may cause pollution of land, ditches, springs, streams or other water bodies. Environmental permits are also required for water management projects that pose a risk of environmental pollution but do not require a permit under the Water Act.Activities requiring environmental permits include forestry, metal and chemical industries, energy production, large animal shelters, professional or industrial waste treatment, mining, fur farming, fish farming, and port and airport operations. An environmental permit must also be obtained if the activity may cause unreasonable burden on nearby residents. An environmental permit must be applied for if the activity expands or begins to generate emissions or if any other significant change occurs.

Issued by: Municipal environmental protection authority or Finnish Supervisory Agency (LVV)

If your business activities have only minor environmental impacts, you can submit a general notification in accordance with the Environmental Protection Act (ympäristönsuojelulaki) instead of applying for an environmental permit. Notifications can be submitted for sawmills, bus or lorry depots, zoos, amusement parks, chemical stores, outdoor shooting ranges, animal shelters, and certain food and feed industry activities.However, environmental permits are required for animal shelters of directive-related size, large cattle farms, fish processing plants, and margarine factories. Notifications are submitted to the municipal environmental protection authority or, for larger chemical stores, to the Permit and Supervision Authority (LVV).

Issued by: Municipal Environmental Protection Authority / Finnish Supervisory Agency (LVV)

If you run a waste transport business in Finland, you must be registered in the waste management register (jätehuoltorekisteri) before you can start operations. This applies to anyone who professionally collects and transports waste, whether working under municipal contracts or directly for property owners.You apply for registration through the Permit and Supervision Authority (Lupa- ja valvontavirasto). The application covers your transport equipment, waste types, and operational procedures. Once approved, your registration details are public and can be verified by waste holders who are required to use registered carriers.

Issued by: Finnish Supervisory Agency (LVV)

A notification of prescribed burning must be submitted to the rescue authority before the prescribed burning begins. Prescribed burning involves burning arable land, felling areas or forest land. Any large-scale incineration of stumps, rubbish and leaves is also considered prescribed burning. The prescribed burning of forest land can only take place under the supervision of a professional.A notification of using fires that produce significant amounts of smoke must also be submitted to the rescue authority. No notification is required for campfires or small bonfires. Lighting any fires during forest fire warnings and hazardous wind conditions is always prohibited.

Issued by: Rescue Authority

A company or operator undertaking experimental activities is obliged to notify of this at least 30 days before commencing operations. Experimental activities often relate to preparation of environmental protection investments or testing of technical implementation, such as use of new substitute chemicals or utilization of waste as raw material.Notification is made to the authority that also grants permits for the activity. If the experimental activity may cause water pollution or unreasonable nuisance as defined in the Neighbourhood Act, an environmental permit must be applied for.

Issued by: Authority granting permits for the activity