YIT IMPLEMENTS PIPELINE COLLECTION SYSTEMS FOR JÄTKÄSAARI AND KALASATAMA IN HELSINKI, FINLAND

YIT IMPLEMENTS PIPELINE COLLECTION SYSTEMS FOR JÄTKÄSAARI AND KALASATAMA IN HELSINKI, FINLAND

Two waste collection companies owned by the City of Helsinki, Kalasataman jätteen putkikeräys Oy and Jätkäsaaren jätteen putkikeräys Oy, have decided to purchase a pipeline waste collection system from YIT for the new residential areas to be established in Kalasatama and Jätkäsaari in Helsinki, Finland. The value of the investments will be around €80 million and of maintenance around €20 million. Investments are carried out in 2012-2030 as the construction of the areas proceeds and the maintenance period is about 20 years after the investments have been finished. Negotiations are currently underway between the companies and YIT Building Services Finland about a purchase and service agreement concerning pipeline collections systems for both the areas.

According to the agreements currently being negotiated, YIT Building Services Finland will plan and construct an automatic Envac waste collection system for the areas and be responsible for its management and maintenance after implementation. It is estimated that the system will be in use in Jätkäsaari in 2012 and in Kalasatama in 2014.

The pipeline collection system will enhance the safety and comfort of the residential areas and facilitate waste recycling. Much of the waste transport in the residential area can be eliminated, which will reduce traffic volumes and emissions, improve the safety of yards and facilitate their maintenance. Hygienic, odour-free and noise-free waste management will improve the pleasantness of the environment.

"The project is well in line with the strategy of the City of Helsinki, which emphasises sustainable development, environmental protection, safety and energy savings. The benefits of the system are particularly evident in densely built urban areas, such as Jätkäsaari and Kalasatama. Helsinki is the first city in Finland that will adopt the pipeline collection system in such a broad scale. The project is financed by the real properties of the areas and their users, and they will become the owners of the pipeline waste collection companies as the construction proceeds," says Kari Halinen, Managing Director of Jätkäsaaren jätteen putkikeräys Oy and Kalasataman jätteen putkikeräys Oy.

“Construction of Kalasatama area has begun with the building of residential quarters at Sörnäistenniemi south of Kulosaari bridge. Kalasatama will provide housing for some 20,000 Helsinki residents, and 8,000 workplaces, by the beginning of the 2030s. Construction work in Jätkäsaari began in the northern part of the area and in Saukonpaasi. The first residential projects have been launched, and the construction of some 1,000 apartments will begin on a total of 20 plots during 2011. Jätkäsaari will provide homes to some 16,000 inhabitants, and about 6,000 workplaces,” Project Managers Hannu Asikainen from Kalasatama and Timo Laitinen from Jätkäsaari say.

”Environmental values and energy efficiency are among YIT’s key aims, and we also want to offer sustainable development solutions for the processing of municipal waste. The pipeline collection system complements solutions for energy-effective construction and energy savings in premises. We are pleased to be able to contribute to a good living environment for the inhabitants of the new areas in Jätkäsaari and Kalasatama,” says Managing Director Jarno Hacklin from YIT Building Services Finland.

YIT introduced the Envac waste collection system in Finland in 2004. The first collection system covering an entire residential area was implemented in Suurpelto, Espoo, in October 2010. YIT is responsible for the planning, installation and maintenance of Envac systems in Finland.

Swedish Envac has been manufacturing vacuum waste collection systems since the 1960s. The systems are commonly used in airports, hospitals, residential areas and commercial centres, for example, in many European countries. The nearest residential area, outside Finland, where the system is in use is in Hammarby Sjöstad, Stockholm. Part of a sustainable development programme, the system has reduced waste transportation traffic in the area by 60%.

For additional information, please contact:
Jarno Hacklin, Managing Director, YIT Building Services Finland, YIT Kiinteistötekniikka Oy, jarno.hacklin@yit.fi, tel. +358 40 864 4401
Petri Pouttu, Product Manager, YIT Building Services Finland, YIT Kiinteistötekniikka Oy, petri.pouttu@yit.fi, tel. +358 50 390 0183

YIT CORPORATION

Virva Salmivaara                   
Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications             

Distribution: Principal media, local media, www.yitgroup.com

YIT is a leading European service company in building systems, construction services and services for industry. We build, develop and maintain quality living environments in the Nordic countries, Central Europe, Russia and the Baltic countries. In 2010, YIT's turnover was EUR 3.8 billion. The Group has nearly 26,000 employees. YIT's shares are listed on NASDAQ OMX Helsinki. The market leader in its industry in Finland, YIT Building Services produces all services related to the installation, maintenance and repair of building systems and services related to the use of the facilities.

The intention of Jätkäsaaren jätteen putkikeräys Oy and Kalasataman jätteen putkikeräys Oy, which are subsidiaries fully owned by the City of Helsinki, is to collect municipal waste by means of a pipeline collection system. They also aim to organise the collection of other waste through regional collection points.