Lajittelematonta

Lajittelematonta is a Finnish adjective meaning not sorted, and in waste management it refers to waste that has not been separated into recycling streams. In practice, the term is used with the noun jäte, yielding lajittelematonta jätettä, i.e., mixed or unsorted waste. The phrase is common in municipal communications and official waste statistics, and it is often equated with sekajäte (residual or mixed waste), although exact definitions can vary by municipality.

What goes into lajittelematonta jätettä is typically waste that cannot or should not be processed as recyclable material. This can include contaminated or non-recyclable items such as used paper towels, soiled food packaging, disposable diapers, textiles, plastics or ceramics that are not accepted by local recycling streams, and small residue from other waste fractions. Some materials that could technically be recycled may end up here if they are dirty, damaged, or otherwise unsuitable for the current recovery processes in a given area.

Disposal and treatment of lajittelematonta jätettä depend on local waste management practices. In many municipalities, it is collected in a dedicated bin and transported to waste-to-energy plants or, in some cases, to landfills, rather than to recycling facilities. Reducing lajittelematonta jätettä through effective source separation is a central goal of Finland’s waste management and circular economy strategies, with performance often measured as the share of waste that is recycled versus the amount categorized as lajittelematonta. See also lajittelu and sekajäte.