Finland’s First Municipal Food Waste Terminal Opened Ten Years Ago in Havukoski, Vantaa
This year marks a decade of Vantaa-based network Yhteinen pöytä ("Shared Table") operating as a national trailblazer in sustainable food aid. The anniversary will culminate in the main celebration held at the food waste terminal on September 25th, during Finland’s national Food Waste Week.
Yhteinen pöytä on noutanut ja jakanut myös vantaalaista kouluruokaa keväästä 2024 alkaen.
The origins of Yhteinen pöytä lie in a collaboration between the Parish Union of Vantaa and the City of Vantaa. When the local food aid organization Vantaan Ruoka-apu ry ceased operations in 2012, a need emerged to reorganize food aid services in the city. Around the same time, the Parish Union took a study trip to Berlin, where they visited several local civic initiatives and a food waste logistics hub called Berliner Tafel. This experience sparked the idea of an adapted model for Vantaa that would combine centralized food waste logistics with strong community engagement, and support the distribution of food aid in Vantaa.
Initially funded through project-based financing, Yhteinen pöytä has been an established part of the City of Vantaa’s permanent operation since 2016. Close cooperation with the city and the parishes continues to this day. The model was later expanded to other parts of Finland through a Sitra-funded project during 2018–2019.
A decade of connecting people and strengthening communities
The core idea of Yhteinen pöytä is to make local food aid more community-oriented and inclusive. The model brings together a strong local network of actors who organize activities around surplus food, engage in dialogue, and coordinate shared training events, among other things.
Each week, food redistributed through Yhteinen pöytä’s terminal reaches over 80 locations across Vantaa—including community centers, welfare service points, NGOs, and parish facilities. The centralized logistics model ensures fair and efficient distribution to various actors and allows for tailoring services to neighborhood-specific needs and customer demographics.
As the demand for food aid has grown in recent years, so has the number of individuals and businesses willing to help. Today’s companies are expected to take concrete acts of responsibility—not only by donating surplus food but also by supporting local communities in various innovative ways. Strengthening partnerships with businesses is one of Yhteinen pöytä’s key priorities for the coming years. The current network of donor companies includes more than 50 businesses.
A festive year full of stories and connection
The anniversary year will kick off on Sunday, May 25th at 10 AM with a celebratory church service hosted by the Hämeenkylä Parish, followed by everyone gathering at a spring garden party—at the shared table. The main anniversary event will take place on September 25th at the food waste terminal as part of Finland's national Food Waste Week.
Throughout the year, Yhteinen pöytä will gather insights and experiences from its diverse stakeholders. These reflections will play a key role in shaping the long-term vision for the coming decade.
Awards and recognition
- 2017: Main recognition from Finland’s Commitment to Sustainable Development 2050
- 2017: Kitchen Act of the Year – Fredman Group
- 2018: Volunteer Action of the Year – Vantaa Parishes
What is Yhteinen pöytä?
- Has redistributed millions of kilos of surplus food
- Enabled thousands of community meals
- Reached thousands of people weekly
- Developed award-winning models now used across Finland
- Built a network of parishes, NGOs, municipalities, welfare districts, businesses, and volunteers
- Helped shape national food aid policy and networks
