Sweden's excellent waste management

1. Eleni Miltiadous
Christina
Galanopoulou
Yasen Valchev
Katja Kippes

2. • World leader in solid waste
management
• Only 1% of all household waste in
Sweden ends up in a rubbish dump
• In 2011 Sweden imports 813,000
tons of waste from Norway

3. • Government-led waste management - in
1904 the first Swedish WTE (waste-to-
energy) plant was built
• Late 1940s – expansion of district heating
systems leads to more WTE plants being
constructed
• 1970s Oil Shocks lead to Swedish
government developing energy strategy
independent of oil – relying on WTE
• 1980s Sweden introduces first renewable,
environmental friendly energy sources –
biofuels, waste

5. • Extensive government legislation and leadership
- The Environment Protection Act (1969), The Environmental code(1999),
Waste Plan ‘A Strategy for Sustainable Waste Management’ (2005)
• Municipalities responsibility
- 1972 statutory responsibility for the collection and transport of domestic
solid waste
- Owners and operators of most incinerators and landfills,
Swedish municipalities in the 1990s had a decisive influence
on the development of waste management infrastructure

6. MANDATORY for households
and producers
Garbage is burnt and generate
20% of their district heating and
provides electricity for a quarter
of a million homes
import 800,000 tons of trash
each year
“This is not a long-term solution really, because we need to be
better to reuse and recycle, but in the short perspective I think it’s
quite a good solution,” Ostlund says
Italy, Romania, Bulgaria, and
Lithuania have started
imitating Sweden

7. The local authorities choose how to organize WM – this possibility
is laid down in the constitutional law

8. Material
efficient
processes (e.g.
pre-fabricated
building)
Products with
longer life, that can
be maintained and
repaired
Develop reuse
(e.g. through
providing
conditions for 2nd
hand markets)
Leasing and
cooperative
ownership
Change the
direction of
consumption Decrease
consumption

12. • > 600.000 habitants
• different ecological
projects (energy-
efficient buildings,
transport facilities,
waste management)

13. • Organic waste becoming biogas for buses
and cars
• Project “Augustenborg Eco-city”
– residents have been involved
– aim: 90% collecting and recycling
– today: 70% recycling
– Project Bo01 (Västra Hamnen, The Western
Harbour)
=> Video

15. • 16 environmental quality objectives (EQOs)
sanctioned by the Government and Riksdag
(parliament)
• Particular emphasize on:
- reduction of generated waste (food)
- increase in household waste biological
treatment and material recycling