What Kiertokaari does

Kiertokaari Oy is a municipal waste management company owned by nine municipalities (Hailuoto, Ii, Kempele, Lumijoki, Oulu, Pudasjärvi, Raahe, Siikajoki, and Simo) and headquartered at the Rusko Waste Management Centre in Oulu, Northern Finland. It serves approximately 290,000 residents through a multi-channel service portfolio that includes door-to-door bio-waste and packaging waste collection, staffed waste stations, and 24/7 self-service IPA stations equipped with automated license plate recognition and online pre-registration. The company operates biogas production from collected biowaste at the Ruskon filling station, a textile sorting pilot under the Interreg NPA-funded THREADs project, and a reuse service that rents and sells recovered materials to events and businesses. Technology development includes the KAJASTUS landfill gas capture pilot with HAMK, executing automated 15-minute measurement and valve control cycles at the Ruskon biogas pumping station.

Kiertokaari's revenue model combines recurring waste collection fees, per-kilogram gate fees at the Rusko facility (e.g., EUR 0.185/kg for mixed waste), annual basic waste management fees in Pudasjärvi (EUR 37.86/year), life-cycle container service fees (elinkaarimaksu), biogas vehicle fuel sales, and transaction-based reuse revenue. The company is certified to ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001 by Bureau Veritas, and holds Yhteiskunnallinen yritys (social enterprise) certification. Transport is outsourced to multiple carriers under 2-7 year contracts, enabling operational leverage without proportional headcount growth.

Kiertokaari's GTM is direct-to-consumer with a horizontal segmentation strategy: residential households are the primary segment (captive under the municipal mandate), while business/corporate customers and event organizers represent secondary segments. Distribution spans 10+ physical locations across Northern Finland, supplemented by the Sähköinen asiointi e-service portal and IPA pre-registration web service. Since March 2025, Kiertokaari has extended customer service and billing operations to three external municipal waste authorities (Lapeco, Napapiirin Residuumi, Perämeren Jätehuolto), establishing a regional service-cooperation model that supports future geographic expansion.

Name

Kiertokaari

Legal name

Kiertokaari Oy

Website

https://kiertokaari.fi

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Kiertokaari Oy is a municipally-owned waste management company serving approximately 290,000 residents across nine municipalities in the Oulu region of Northern Finland, providing waste collection, recycling, biogas production, and self-service waste disposal services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Municipal Waste Management

NAICS

Solid Waste Collection (562111), Waste Collection (56211), Hazardous Waste Collection (562112), Waste Treatment and Disposal (56221), Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal (562211)

SIC

Refuse Systems (4953), Hazardous Waste Management (4955), Sanitary Services (4950)

akta.pro primary industry

Commercial & Office Waste Collection (Non-hazardous) (EUAIAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Hazardous Waste & Universal Waste Handling (Batteries, Lamps, Aerosols) (BPABALAE), E-waste & Universal Waste Collection/Transfer (Electronics, Lamps, Batteries) (EUAIABAG), Industrial Hazardous Waste Services (Manufacturing, Refineries, Metals, Automotive) (EUAIAFAG), Waste Management & Hazardous Waste Compliance (RCRA, Universal Waste, Waste Characterization/Manifests) (EUAHABAC)

Keywords

• Municipal waste management
• Waste collection services
• Recycling services
• Biogas production
• Circular economy services

Headquarters

HQ city

Oulu

HQ country

Finland

HQ region

Europe

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Waste Collection and Treatment Fees: Charges for waste container emptying services for residential and commercial properties, including bio-waste, mixed waste, and packaging waste collection. Fees are determined by local waste management regulations and vary by municipality.
2. Gate Fees (Per-Kilogram Waste Charges): Fees charged for waste delivered to the Rusko Waste Management Centre and other facilities, calculated by weight (e.g., mixed waste and unsorted construction waste at EUR 0.185/kg). Minimum fees apply for small loads.
3. Basic Waste Management Fee (Perusmaksu): Annual basic waste management fee charged to all properties including holiday homes in Pudasjärvi, covering general waste management organization and waste station operations.
4. Life Cycle Fee (Elinkaarimaksu / Astiapalvelu): Container lifecycle service fee covering container rental, size changes, removal of old containers, container labels, sorting labels for housing companies, bio-waste bag supply and installation, and annual washing of containers.
5. Rusko Biogas Sales: Sale of locally produced biogas as vehicle fuel at the 24/7 Rusko biogas filling station, and as industrial energy feedstock.
6. Reuse Service (Uudelleenkäyttöpalvelu): Rental and sale of reusable materials and items recovered from the waste stream to businesses, associations, events, and project coordinators.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Kiertokaari Oy provides statutory municipal waste management across nine municipalities in Northern Finland, including separate collection of bio-waste, packaging materials, mixed waste, hazardous waste, textiles, and construction debris. It operates staffed and 24/7 self-service (IPA) waste stations, produces biogas from biowaste at the Rusko biogas facility, runs second-hand retail shops (Kierrätyskeskus Likke and Mini-Likke), and offers reuse-material rentals for businesses, associations, and event organizers.

Product overview

Kiertokaari is a municipal waste management company operating a comprehensive, multi-channel service portfolio across nine municipalities in Northern Finland, serving approximately 290,000 residents. The offering is not a single unified product but rather a platform-plus-services model anchored by physical waste infrastructure (jäteasemat, Ruskon jätekeskus, transfer stations) and complemented by digital service platforms. The core infrastructure consists of IPA (Itsepalveluasema) self-service stations at Ruskon jätekeskus and Pudasjärvi, which run 24/7 alongside staffed service windows; Oivapiste free collection areas; Ruskon biokaasu biogas refueling; and the Kierrätyskeskus Likke / Mini-Likke second-hand goods operations. Digital channels include the Sähköinen asiointi customer portal (contract and billing management) and the IPA Ennakkoilmoittautuminen pre-registration web service. Supplementary services span biowaste collection, hazardous waste pickup, bulky waste pickup (noutopalvelu), reusable goods donation, reuse material rental, textile collection, and environmental education tours. All services are delivered within a quality and environmental management framework certified to ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• IPA Self-Service Station (Itsepalveluasema) A 24/7 self-service waste disposal station at Ruskon jätekeskus (Oulu) and Pudasjärvi transfer station. Customers pre-register waste types online or at on-site terminals, pay in advance via bank transfer or card, and access the facility using automatic license plate recognition or QR codes. Free waste is delivered to Oivapiste; paid waste goes to a separate gated area.
• Rusko Biogas (Ruskon biokaasu) A biogas production and refueling station at Ruskon jätekeskus producing biogas from collected biowaste. The station is open 24/7 for vehicle refueling, with digestate repurposed as fertilizer in the Oulu region.
• Kierrätyskeskus Likke (Recycling Centre) A reuse centre operated by Kiertokaari in Limingantulli, Oulu, that accepts donated usable goods and resells them. Includes a textile sorting and sales operation and a sports equipment lending library (Liikuntavälinelainaamo).
• Kierrätyskauppa Mini-Likke A second-hand goods shop located at Ruskon jätekeskus selling donated reusable items and receiving security paper and plastic waste.
• Noutopalvelu (Pickup Service) A door-to-door collection service for large or bulky waste items that cannot be placed in standard waste bins. Customers book a pickup appointment.
• Vaarallisen jätteen noutopalvelu (Hazardous Waste Pickup) A specialized pickup service for hazardous waste from households, including paints, solvents, oils, and chemicals, arranged by contacting customer service.
• Uudelleenkäyttöpalvelu (Reuse Service) A service for businesses, associations, and event organizers to rent or purchase recycled materials and reusable goods from Kiertokaari for events, construction projects, and urban installations.
• Biojätteen keräys (Biowaste Collection) Door-to-door biowaste collection service for residential properties in urban areas. Includes individual bin service, shared neighbourhood bin (jätekimppa), or composting. Service covers Hailuoto, Ii, Kempele, Lumijoki, Oulu, Pudasjärvi, Raahe, and Siikajoki.
• Jäteastiat (Waste Bins and Containers) Waste bin rental and delivery service with five container sizes (80 L, 140 L, 240 L, 360 L, 660 L). Includes an 'elinkaarimaksu' (lifecycle fee) covering maintenance, washing, replacement, and labelling. Multi-compartment bins (monilokeroastia) available in Oulu for mixed waste, cardboard, paper, and plastic packaging.
• Pudasjärven IPA Self-Service Station A 24/7 self-service waste disposal station at Pudasjärvi transfer loading station enabling waste disposal any time of day for Pudasjärvi residents.

Quantifiable outcome

• Kiertokaari produces biogas from collected biowaste, used as vehicle fuel, industrial heating/electricity, and displacing fossil fuels.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Hämeen ammattikorkeakoulu (HAMK)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024HAMK participates as a co-implementer in the KAJASTUS (Kaatopaikkakaasun jatkojalostus) project led by Kiertokaari, contributing to the development of measurement and control tools for landfill gas utilization across Finnish municipal waste companies.
• Jätekukko Oy (Kuopio region)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Jätekukko Oy is a co-implementer in the KAJASTUS project, one of 18 municipal waste companies in the Pohjois-Savo region participating in the landfill gas utilization pilot.
• Lounais-Suomen Jätehuolto (LSJH) OyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024LSJH Oy, owned by 18 municipalities in Southwest Finland, is a co-implementer in the KAJASTUS project, testing new landfill gas measurement and control equipment at its sites.
• Napapiirin ResiduumicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKiertokaari handles all customer contacts and partial billing for Napapiirin Residuumi, which serves Rovaniemi, Ranua, and Pello. Customer satisfaction has improved under the cooperation model since March 2025.
• Perämeren JätehuoltocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKiertokaari manages customer service and billing operations for Perämeren Jätehuolto covering the Kemi–Tornio area as part of the Northern Finland customer service cooperation initiated in 2025.
• Lapin Jätehuolto kuntayhtymä LapecocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKiertokaari manages customer contacts for Lapeco (Upper Lapland) since March 2025, extending its customer service expertise to partner waste management organizations across Northern Finland.
• Oulun yliopisto (University of Oulu)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing cooperation including joint development of the 'Waste Management and Recycling' course, annual mixed waste composition studies, student theses, and practical training at Rusko Waste Centre. Contributes research relevance to academic programs and provides Kiertokaari with research-driven insights.
• Oulun ammattikorkeakoulu (Oulu University of Applied Sciences)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation includes expert lectures, company visits to Rusko Waste Centre, project collaborations, and student theses. Kiertokaari contributed input during the establishment of the energy and environmental engineering program with a circular economy specialization.
• Kajaanin ammattikorkeakoulu (Kajaani University of Applied Sciences)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation in circular economy projects and student theses as part of Kiertokaari's broader university collaboration network.
• Oulun innovaatioallianssi (Oulu Innovation Alliance)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKiertokaari participates in the Oulu Innovation Alliance, collaborating with the City of Oulu, regional circular economy companies, and research institutions to develop new circular economy project ideas.
• Metsokankaan koulu (Metsokangas School, Oulu)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudent art competition held with the school in support of Oulu's European Capital of Culture year. The winning artwork was applied to a waste collection truck, and the entire class visited Kierrätyskeskus Likke as a prize.
• Oulu2026 Sopukka-projectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOulu2026 cultural program project using Kiertokaari's reuse service to source recovered materials for urban space activations, including a 5-metre boat repurposed as a seating area, planters from chemical drums, and insect hotels from bricks.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Remeo Oy: Major Finnish waste management company focused on recycling and material recovery. Another contracted transport carrier for Kiertokaari; broader commercial scope but overlapping capabilities in collection and recycling.
• Lassila & Tikanoja Oyj (L&T): Finland’s largest listed environmental services group, providing waste, recycling, and property services nationally. One of Kiertokaari’s outsourced transport carriers and a benchmark for service breadth, but operates as a private commercial incumbent rather than a municipal entity.

Direct peers

• Lounais-Suomen Jätehuolto (LSJH) Oy: Waste management company owned by 18 municipalities in Southwest Finland (Turku region). KAJASTUS co-implementer with Kiertokaari; comparable scale, municipal ownership structure, and operating model.
• Napapiirin Residuumi Oy: Municipal waste management company serving Rovaniemi, Ranua, and Pello in Lapland. Existing Kiertokaari customer-service partner, indicating a high operational and structural overlap.
• Jätekukko Oy: Municipal waste management company serving 18 municipalities in the Kuopio / North Savo region. Co-implementer with Kiertokaari on the KAJASTUS project, making it a near-twin in mandate, scale, and service mix.
• HSY (Helsinki Region Environmental Services): Municipal waste and environmental services authority for the Helsinki metropolitan area. Closely comparable structure: municipally owned, mandated waste collection, recycling stations, biogas/processing infrastructure, and ISO-certified operations — a larger-scale twin of Kiertokaari.
• Lakeuden Etappi Oy: Municipal waste management company owned by 17 municipalities in South Ostrobothnia (Seinäjoki region). Directly comparable as a municipally owned waste operator with bio-waste collection, waste stations, and recycling services for a similar mid-size Finnish population catchment.
• Perämeren Jätehuolto Oy: Municipal waste company covering the Kemi–Tornio area in Finnish Lapland. Customer-service partner of Kiertokaari; comparable in mandate and rural/northern operating conditions.
• Lapin Jätehuolto kuntayhtymä Lapeco: Municipal waste authority covering Upper Lapland. Kiertokaari manages its customer service since March 2025; closely comparable as a small-population, geographically dispersed Finnish municipal waste operator.

Regional players

• Ragn-Sells Group: Nordic and Baltic waste and recycling group operating across Sweden, Norway, Estonia, and Latvia. Not a direct Finnish competitor but a useful reference for circular-economy and biogas business models at northern-European municipal scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@kiertokaari
• Facebookfacebook.com/Kiertokaari
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kiertokaari-oy
• Instagraminstagram.com/kiertokaari
• Xx.com/kiertokaari

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kiertokaari