Engaging communities through open information and cooperation models
Transparency is an essential part of Westenergy’s operations. We have thousands of visitors at the plant every year and we try to make contacts in our operational area in various ways. The work and study opportunities we offer will also help to make our operations known.
Important work for Westenergy’s transparency is made by Communications Officer Sanna Hautamaa and Executive Assistant Maria Teräs, who meet hundreds of people on site tours and at trade fairs annually.
– We want to improve the reputation of the entire industry, since many believe that incineration is dirty and smelly. Actually, it is very clean. We produce energy and help the environment at the same time. Our plant is an alternative to landfilling and we reduce the use of coal and oil in energy production, says Maria.
Thousands of visitors
In 2017, Westenergy had 3,134 visitors on site tours and 847 visitors at trade fairs, which means that Westenergy was able to meet a total of about 4,000 people last year; around 300 of them attended the company’s open house event on October 28. In addition, Westenergy is in contact with people through social media, via its own Instagram and Facebook accounts. However, the waste incineration plant’s operations are easiest to grasp on site:
-It’s a different experience when we can really show what this place is about. Visitors have a chance to peak into the grate and they can see a waste bunker grab from the window of the control room, which especially the smallest visitors love. Here you can ask questions and take as many pictures as you want. We encourage both pictures and information to be shared with others as well, says Sanna.