Editor’s note: This is Part Three in a series on ongoing worldwide efforts to deal with environmental pollution caused by plastic waste. It looks at Sweden’s extraordinary culture of recycling and its progress toward its goal of recycling 100% of its waste. Part One examined the global scale of the problem. Part Two reviewed a range of proposals by environmental groups to deal with waste plastics, as well as specific initiatives individual locales are implementing to address the problem.
The nation of Sweden has made remarkable strides toward its ambitious goal of recycling 100% of its waste. With a mix of innovative policies, a culture of willingness to recycle, and advanced technologies, the country has transformed waste into a valuable resource.
As of 2024, Sweden continues to lead all nations in waste management. The country has developed a highly integrated system where waste is either recycled or converted into energy, with almost none ending up in landfills.
The breakdown of waste recycling in Sweden is as follows:
- Plastic waste: At present, 48% of all plastic packaging is recycled, according to naturvardsverket.se. Other types of plastic are recycled in higher percentages.
That’s better than almost any nation on Earth. For example, at present, the United States recycles less than 10% of its plastic packaging, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency.
- Glass: Approximately 93% of Sweden’s glass packaging is recycled, according to naturvardsverket.se.
- Metal: Sweden recycles more than 85% of its metal packaging.
- Paper: An estimated 80% of Swedish-manufactured paper is recycled, according to the Swedish Forest Industries Federation.
Sweden also has 34 operational waste-to-energy (W2E) incinerator plants that play a major role in converting non-recyclable waste into energy. These plants provide heating to more than one million homes.
To meet the needs of its W2E incinerators, the country actually imports waste from other nations to augment its own waste that is processed in its W2E plants.
Sweden’s claim of currently recycling more than 99% of its waste is based on combining its plastic, glass, metal, and paper recycling with its energy recovery from waste that it burns in its W2E plants. This is waste that cannot be otherwise recycled.
This means that even though the recycling rates for specific materials might not be 100%, the waste that is not recycled often ends up in W2E plants. This contributes to the overall high rate of waste being “recycled” in the broader sense, as this waste does not end up in landfills.
Before diving further into the components of Sweden’s impressive recycling stewardship, let’s look at several factors unique to Swedish culture that play a role in this success.
How Swedish cultural values drive its recycling success
Sweden’s top-of-the-world recycling rates are deeply influenced by the nation’s cultural attitudes and values toward environmental stewardship and sustainability. Several factors unique to Swedish culture play a role in this success:
A deep-rooted environmental consciousness
Sweden has a long history of environmental awareness. Its citizens deeply value nature and sustainability. This is reflected in everyday practices and in the national education system, where environmental issues are emphasized from an early age.
Swedes often feel a personal responsibility to protect the environment, which translates into strong support for recycling initiatives and other sustainable practices.
Community and collective responsibility are Swedish values
In Sweden, there’s a strong sense of community and collective responsibility. These values are referred to as the Law of Jante, or “Jantelagen” in Swedish, which emphasizes the importance of not standing out and contributing to the common good.
This cultural norm cultivates behaviors that prioritize the welfare of the group. One of these is active participation in recycling programs and adherence to environmental regulations.
Government policies support and enforce recycling initiatives
The Swedish government’s policies that encourage recycling include an ecological ethos known as extended producer responsibility (EPR). In a nutshell, EPR means manufacturers and producers are responsible for the entire lifecycle of their products. This includes disposal.
These policies are not just top-down but are supported by the Swedish population, as there is a cultural alignment between government initiatives and citizen values.
Design and innovation traditions lead to sustainable products and services
Sweden’s strong tradition in design and innovation also contributes to its recycling success.
Swedish companies and startups often focus on creating sustainable products and services. This not only drives the development of new recycling technologies but also makes recycling a vital part of daily life.
Swedish schools teach environmental stewardship
In Sweden, environmental education is integrated into school curricula. Because of this emphasis, Swedish children grow up with a strong understanding of the importance of recycling and sustainability. Early education on these topics helps instill lifelong habits that contribute to the country’s high recycling rates.
Behavioral research plays a part in the design of recycling initiatives
Swedish recycling initiatives often incorporate research into human behavior. The goal of this research is to learn how to make recycling easier and more intuitive.
Programs are designed to remove barriers and provide incentives for recycling, making it a natural and effortless choice for most Swedes.
What are the components of Swedish recycling?
Some key elements Swedish recycling are:
- Mandatory detailed sorting and recycling of waste, including food waste
- Underground piping in Stockholm and Malmo for vacuum collection of household waste
- Extensive processing of a range of waste products into eco-friendly biogas
- A nationwide bottle and can recycling system that incentivizes both consumers and producers to participate
- A state-of-the-art recycling facility that sorts 12 different types of plastics and is designed to process the majority of the nation’s plastic packaging waste
- Waste-to-energy incineration facilities throughout the nation that product energy that powers and heats Swedish homes
- Revenue generation by importing waste from other countries, which is used as additional feedstock for its W2E facilities
Here’s a close-up look at each of these complementary elements of Sweden’s recycling program.
Mandatory sorting and recycling of waste including food waste
In Sweden, mandatory sorting and recycling of waste is a well-established practice supported by strict regulations and widespread infrastructure. As of 2021, this includes food waste.
Every household and business is required by law to sort their waste into specific categories, such as recyclables, organic waste, and non-recyclable waste. Organic waste, including food scraps, is collected separately and sent to biogas processing plants.
This system is highly efficient and results in less than 1% of Sweden’s household waste ending up in landfills.
Underground systems that collect household waste
Two of Sweden’s largest cities, Stockholm and Malmö, have implemented advanced waste recycling systems that feature underground vacuum systems to transport household waste to central collection points. Here’s how they work:
These systems involve a network of underground pipes that connect residential buildings directly to a central waste collection facility. Residents deposit their waste into designated inlets located in their apartment buildings or on nearby streets.
The waste is then sucked through the underground pipes using air pressure and transported to a central collection facility, where it is sorted and prepared for recycling or disposal.
In Stockholm, the underground system is best developed in the Hammarby Sjöstad district, an area of Stockholm designed with sustainability in mind. The Western Harbour (Västra Hamnen) area in Malmö uses a similar system.
These pipe networks reduce the need for garbage trucks operating on city streets.
In addition, recycling collection facilities in Swedish cities are located within 300 meters of most residences.
Biogas production is a major part of the Swedish recycling picture
Sweden has more than 280 biogas plants across the country. These plants are located near urban areas, waste treatment facilities, and agricultural regions where organic waste is readily available.
Biogas is commonly upgraded at these facilities to remove impurities, primarily carbon dioxide. The end product is biomethane, which is suitable for use as vehicle fuel or for injection into the gas grid.
The plants are dispersed across Sweden with concentrations in regions like Skåne, Västra Götaland, and Stockholm, where the demand for biogas is higher due to dense populations and industrial activity.
Feedstock used in Swedish biogas plants
While food waste is a major source of feedstock (Sweden is the world leader in recycling food waste into fuel), Swedish biogas plants process a wide range of organic materials, including:
- Agricultural waste: Manure, crop residues, and other agricultural by-products are commonly used.
- Sewage sludge: Many plants process sewage sludge from wastewater treatment plants.
- Industrial waste: Organic waste from food processing industries such as waste from slaughterhouses, breweries, and dairies is processed into biogas.
- Energy crops: Some biogas plants use dedicated energy crops, such as maize or clover, though this is less common compared to waste-based feedstocks.
- Green waste: Garden waste, grass clippings, and other green waste collected from municipalities end up in biogas facilities.
This combination of feedstocks helps optimize biogas production and contributes to a more circular economy by diverting organic waste from landfills and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
End uses of Swedish biogas
In Sweden, biogas has several end uses. Its main applications include:
- Transportation fuel: A majority of biogas in Sweden is upgraded to biomethane and used as a renewable vehicle fuel. It powers buses, trucks, and even private vehicles.
- Electricity and heat generation: Biogas is used in combined heat and power (CHP) plants to produce electricity and heat. The heat generated is often used in district heating systems, which are common in Sweden.
- Injection into the gas grid: Upgraded biogas (biomethane) is sometimes injected into the natural gas grid. This provides a renewable alternative to fossil-based natural gas.
- Industrial uses: Biogas is also used in industrial processes as an energy source.
How much biogas does a biogas plant produce?
The amount of biogas produced by a plant in Sweden can vary significantly depending on the size of the plant, the feedstock used, and the technology employed.
On average, a typical large-scale biogas plant in Sweden can produce between 2 and 15 million cubic meters of biogas per year. That’s enough biogas to heat 3,000 to 30,000 Swedish homes yearly.
Sweden’s system for recycling bottles and cans
Sweden’s “Pantamera” system for recycling beverage containers is a classic deposit-return program that is widely used elsewhere as well. For instance, Michigan in the US has had a similar program for 50 years.
Consumers pay a small deposit when purchasing bottled beverages and receive the deposit back when they return the empties to recycling machines located in supermarkets and other locations.
However, Sweden takes its bottle return program a step further, since beverage producers and sellers are responsible for financing the collection and recycling of these containers.
This includes paying fees to organizations like Returnpack, which manages the deposit-return system in Sweden. The fees cover the operational costs of running the system, including the collection, sorting, and recycling of the bottles and cans.
The initiative has been so effective that Sweden now has one of the highest rates of container recycling in the world, with more than 85% of PET bottles and aluminum cans being recycled.
PET stands for polyethylene terephthalate, a type of plastic commonly used for packaging beverages, food, and other products. PET is highly recyclable, which is why it is often used in recycling programs like the Pantamera system in Sweden.
Every year, Swedes recycle 1.8 billion bottles that would have gone into landfills and waterways, according to rePurpose.
In short, Sweden’s exceptional recycling rates are a product of a deeply ingrained environmental ethos supported by government policies, community norms, and innovative approaches that make sustainability a core aspect of daily life.
Site Zero: The most advanced plastic recycling facility in the world
Sweden’s plastic waste recycling facilities, particularly the newly opened Site Zero plant in Motala, stand out as some of the most advanced and efficient in the world. Commissioned into operation in November 2023, Site Zero currently is the largest and most modern plastic sorting facility in the world.
The plant sorts up to 12 different types of plastic at a rate of 42 tons per hour. It can process 200,000 tons of plastic packaging per year, roughly equivalent to the total volume of plastic packaging placed on the Swedish market annually. Site Zero is expected to process the vast majority of Sweden’s plastic packaging waste.
In terms of efficiency, Site Zero is designed to recycle up to 95% of the plastic it receives. This is a huge improvement over the capacities of older facilities.
This high efficiency is achieved using 60 near infrared (NIR) sensors that optimize the sorting process, as well as an advanced control system that uses real-time optimization and artificial intelligence.
The facility also offers recycling services to neighboring countries, such as Finland.
W2E incineration facilities play a key waste management role
Sweden operates a nationwide network of waste-to-energy incineration facilities. At present, the 34 W2E plants throughout the nation convert waste into electricity and district heating for homes and businesses, effectively using waste as a resource.
The efficiency of the Swedish W2E plants is generally high. The more modern facilities among them achieve energy recovery rates of more than 90% of the caloric value of the waste. This is largely due to continuous modernization efforts, including upgrading to the latest filtration technologies, which significantly reduce harmful emissions such as dioxins and other pollutants.
Newer facilities or those that have undergone significant upgrades typically have the most advanced filtration and emission control systems, which are designed to meet strict European Union environmental standards. These systems include multi-stage flue gas cleaning processes that remove harmful pollutants, making the emissions from these plants extremely low.
Taken as a whole, Sweden’s W2E plants are among the most efficient and environmentally friendly worldwide.
What kinds of energy do Swedish W2E plants produce?
Sweden’s waste-to-energy incineration facilities primarily produce two types of energy that are used to power and heat Swedish homes:
- Electricity: The incineration of waste generates heat, which is used to produce steam. This steam drives turbines to generate electricity. The electricity produced is supplied to the national grid and used to power homes and businesses.
- District heating: The primary output from W2E facilities is heat, which is used in district heating systems. District heating is a centralized heating solution in which heat produced from various sources, including waste incineration, is distributed through a network of insulated pipes to provide space heating and hot water to residential, commercial, and industrial buildings. This system is widely used across Sweden.
Sweden’s W2E plants provide heat to more than 1.2 million households and electricity to another 800,000. Its W2E plants fulfill a key role in Sweden’s strategy to reduce landfill usage and lower dependency on fossil fuels.
Cash for trash: Sweden makes money from importing trash
Sweden’s innovative importing of waste as feedstock for its W2E plants is a lucrative business. It generates upwards of $100 million USD annually, according to HowStuffWorks.
The website reports that the going rate for exporting trash to Sweden is $43 per ton, noting that Norway, Ireland, and the United Kingdom all export waste materials to Sweden’s incineration facilities. Sweden only imports non-hazardous waste.
A remarkable success story
Sweden’s approach to waste management is a remarkable example of efficiency and innovation. The country’s high recycling rates, effective use of waste-to-energy technology, and cultural acceptance of recycling all contribute to its success.
It’s not a perfect system, as questions remain regarding the long-term sustainability of importing waste, as well as the risks of relying heavily on air-polluting W2E incinerators to provide energy, no matter how minimal that pollution may be.
But right now, it’s fair to say that Sweden has the most successful full-scale recycling program on Earth.
