Lahti, FI experiments with incentives for resident participation in textile recycling
Lahti selected a textile recycling drop-off at Shopping Centre Trio for the 11-day pilot. Residents dropped off bags of disposable materials at the site in exchange for coffee vouchers and swimming pool passes. Textiles gathered at the pilot location and other sites are turned into raw materials at a regional facility. This pilot complements a city-hosted design competition featuring discarded textiles. Lahti developed these projects with its 2050 waste-free city goal in mind.
Lahti, FI
Finland
Lahti, FI TalentHub Idea Contest builds connections between employers and international residents
Lahti TalentHub is a three-year project to leverage international talent living in the city. The Idea Contest seeks proposals on how local businesses can identify potential employees and partners from this group. Proposals ranging from digital employment platforms to service delivery models will be considered by international students from the LAB University of Applied Sciences. Winning applicants receive gift cards for local businesses and their ideas are considered for pilot programs.
Lahti, FI
Finland
Lahti, FI promotes lasting and low-impact housing with sustainable building guide
The city's Carbon Neutral Construction Development Center published a 53-page guide and accompanying website. Builders learn the various environmental impacts of conventional home construction. The Sustainable Home guide suggests building materials and timelines for detached homes that can last for generations. Resources like a map of ideal lots for sustainable building and an emissions database allow users to put the guide into action.
Lahti, FI
Finland
Lahti, FI pilots seasonal e-bike sharing program ahead of citywide rollout in 2022
Lahti purchased 250 e-bikes from manufacturer Freebike for an initial three-month trial. Riders access the fleet at 30 locations using the program's mobile app. City officials selected high-traffic areas like the harbor and sports center to maximize e-bike use. Lessons from the pilot will shape seasonal e-bike operations slated through at least 2027. Residents voted for the Mankeli brand in a naming contest that attracted 1,500 suggestions.
Lahti, FI
Finland
Lahti, FI works with Lappeenranta on #Zeropollutionhour nature cleanup campaign during EU Green Week
Lahti and Lappeenranta are asking participants to spend one hour each clearing litter in May 2021. Individuals, offices, and community groups post photos and locations of their pickups to social media with the campaign hashtag. A Maptionnaire map allows participants to mark areas they've cleaned to avoid duplication by other teams. The #Zeropollutionhour campaign website includes suggestions for greener living including sustainable transport, food, and energy use.
Lahti, FI
Finland
Lappeenranta, FI
Finland
Lahti, FI reduces environmental impacts of artificial sports fields with granule collectors
The city and municipal water utility Lahti Aqua added the collectors to stormwater drains near artificial playing surfaces. Activity on these fields kicks up rubber pellets that can be carried by stormwater into the water supply. Granule collectors filter pellets out of the water prior to treatment and allow for their reuse during field maintenance. Lahti is the first city in Finland to use granule collectors with project lessons likely applied to other cities.
Lahti, FI
Finland
Lahti, FI generates citywide interest in public projects with participatory budgeting initiative
The inaugural round of participatory budgeting sought resident proposals for new projects. Suggestions were divided into citywide, north, south, and east sections with €25,000 available for each section. Individuals and groups received proposal feedback from city staff and fellow residents during a public workshop. A two-week voting period encouraged residents to cast online or print ballots for their favorite ideas.
Lahti, FI
Finland