The aim in this thesis was to find out practices of waste boards. To find them out, waste boards’ formation and function needed to be familiarized with. The ordering party of the thesis was the town of Forssa.

In the theory part of the thesis, the main focus is put on waste management organized by the municipality, obligations involved within and the authoritative task. One of the key topics is the formation of the municipality’s waste management authority within the group of the municipalities which own together a company to carry out the service task of waste management. There are two ways, either a federation of municipalities or a common decision element. Both in the theory part and research part the focus is put on waste board as a common decision element instead of a federation of municipalities.

The research method was a questionnaire study. The qualitative approach is emphasized for big part of the research material was gained by open answers. The quantitative approach is used when results are showed with percentages and graphs formulated by them. The questionnaire study was carried out in autumn 2012.

The response rate of the questionnaire was 73.3. It can be said there was a representative sample. In defining the practices most useful results were gained from decision making, the office holder’s assignments and cooperation with the waste management company. Waste boards get background information in decision making from waste management companies. Challenges faced in the starting of waste boards gave matters which can help to develop waste boards’ activity. The cooperation between municipalities came out as a central matter.