Ekokymppi digitises 70% of weighing with material flow management

Summary

Ekokymppi digitised material processing across its waste operations by introducing Pinja’s material flow management and tracking system. The solution enables mobile weighing, electronic movement documents, and real-time reporting — helping the municipal waste management company process materials faster, reduce manual work, and gain reliable data for operational control and decision-making.

Featured solution
Material Flow
Data & Intelligence

Impact

70% of weighing now mobile

Mobile weighing significantly speeds up daily operations.

Less manual paperwork

Electronic movement documents replace paper-based processing.

Improved traceability

Accurate, verifiable data supports compliance and reporting.

Better operational insight

Material flow data feeds into management reporting and analytics.

About Ekokymppi

Ekokymppi is a Finnish Waste Management Joint Authority providing statutory waste management services and official duties for its operating area. Its mission is to ensure a clean, safe, and healthy living environment while promoting sustainable development and circular economy practices.

~80,000 inhabitants served
97–98% of received waste is recycled
60% of received waste consists of municipal waste

THE CHALLENGE

Waste Act reform required faster, more transparent material flow control

The reform of the Finnish Waste Act, which came into force in phases starting in July 2021, marked the largest operational change in Ekokymppi’s history. The reform significantly affected waste transport, documentation, and reporting requirements, forcing a review of existing processes.

One key challenge was outdated weighing and material tracking practices. Manual workflows slowed down drivers, increased paperwork, and made it harder to ensure accuracy and traceability. At the same time, electronic movement documents became mandatory for certain waste types, creating an urgent need for digital solutions.

Ekokymppi identified the need to automate material handling and improve visibility across its waste centres and sorting stations — while ensuring that all changes could be implemented collaboratively with partners across the value chain.

“The change brought by the reform of the Waste Act is so big and affects so many that we want to implement it together with all our key partners. Pinja is definitely one of them.”

Marjut KinnunenQuality and Development Manager at Ekokymppi

THE SOLUTION

Material flow management software designed for tracking waste materials from reception through processing

Ekokymppi began working with Pinja in autumn 2020 to modernise its material handling processes. From the start, Ekokymppi was closely involved in service design and development, contributing its own expertise in waste management and the circular economy.

The material flow management and tracking system supports the full lifecycle of material handling — from reception and weighing to reporting and warehouse functions. A key improvement is mobile weighing, which allows drivers to complete weighing directly from the vehicle without leaving the cab.

Electronic movement documents ensure that waste transport and processing are accurately documented and fully traceable. The system is used at Ekokymppi’s waste centre and across multiple sorting stations, supporting both external reporting requirements and internal operational coordination.

To complement operational systems, Pinja also delivered a Data & Intelligence solution based on Power BI. This provides Ekokymppi with a centralised view of material flows and has become an important tool for knowledge-based management.

THE IMPACT

Faster operations, complete traceability, and sustainable practices

The transformation in daily operations was immediate and substantial. Around 70% of weighing is now completed via mobile weighing, which speeds up drivers' work significantly — they no longer need to leave their trucks for routine weighing operations.

The shift from paper to electronic processes brought multiple benefits. Electronic weighing certificates improved both accuracy and traceability, supporting the transparency that's essential in waste management. The reduction in paper processing also aligned with Ekokymppi's sustainability commitments.

Operational visibility improved across all sites. Station managers can now order transport for platforms in advance and monitor orders through the system, making it straightforward to track how contracts with waste stations perform in practice.

The Power BI reporting solution, introduced in autumn 2022, became an important knowledge management tool. It supports efficient reporting and gives management better insight into operations and decision-making data.

Key impacts include:

70% of weighing now mobile, speeding up driver workflow by eliminating truck exits

Significant paper reduction, supporting both efficiency and sustainability goals

Complete electronic traceability, ensuring accurate and verifiable reporting for statutory compliance

Real-time contract monitoring across 8 sorting stations, with advance transport ordering and system-based oversight

Enhanced knowledge management through Power BI reporting, supporting better operational decisions

"The electronic weighing certificate improves accuracy and traceability, and is also sustainable, which is important in this industry."

Teija KorhonenOperations Manager at Ekokymppi

Ekokymppi speeds up material processing with mobile weighing for 70% of trucks