25 Other authorities Local offices of Kela and TE Centres are located in Raahe, Oulu, Ylivieska, and Kokkola. Also located in Oulu are the Northern Finland Regional State Administrative Agency (AVI ), Northern Ostrobothnia Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY) and the Council of Oulu Region. The Ostrobothnia Employment and Economic Development Office and the Council of Central Ostrobothnia are located in Kokkola. Kela www.kela.fi/en AVI Northern Finland www.avi.fi/en/web/avi-en North Ostrobothnia Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY Centre) www.ely-keskus.fi/en/web/ely-en Council of Oulu Region www.pohjois-pohjanmaa.fi Oulu Region TE Office www.te-services.fi/te/en Ostrobothnia TE Office www.te-services.fi/te/en Council of Central Ostrobothnia www.keski-pohjanmaa.fi Municipal and industrial waste and water supply Municipal waste is waste created in everyday life. Municipalities form municipal waste management agreements with a waste disposal company of their choice. Companies can select a waste disposal company for the industrial waste created in their operation. Municipalities also supervise the waste management of companies. Further information is available on the municipal web pages. In Finland, municipalities are in charge of water supply and sewerage management. Local water companies take care of sewage treatment in each municipality. Each has its own water treatment plant. Municipal water and sewage service contact information is available on the municipal web pages. Housing, education and leisure Sixty-five percent of all Finnish households live in apartments or houses that they own. In addition, Finns own nearly 500,000 summer cottages in different parts of the country, often by lakes or by the sea. The majority of the population lives in towns and cities and the countryside is sparsely populated compared to other European countries. Rental apartments Both the public and the private sector provide rental apartments. The private sector also offers furnished flats. Municipal apartments are rented as a municipal service. Private apartments can be viewed on national real estate and rental web portals. Further information is available from municipalities and regional business services. In Finland, most local real estate agents advertise on nationwide service portals. Apartments online www.etuovi.com www.vuokraovi.com www.oikotie.fi www.jokakoti.fi
Hanhikivi Guide 2015
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