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Recycling of waste to material
Waste management
Waste policy and planning
Danes Sort Waste Like Never Before
Unsorted waste in Danish households is steadily decreasing as Danes are sorting an increasing amount of their waste. With statistics dating back to 2014, the Danish Ministry of Environment and Food shows that 31% of household waste is currently being recycled.
This figure comprises seven waste categories – the so-called “waste fractions” – from the Danish households: Organic waste (food waste), paper waste, cardboard waste, wood waste, plastic, and metallic waste. With the 2013 national recycle plan “Danmark Uden Affald”, the percentage of re-used materials from household waste is set to reach 50% by 2022. At present, we are on the right track.
- Related news: Recycling up close: Responsibility to recycle
The amount of domestic waste that gets re-cycled has increased by 3% from 2013 to 2014 which is approximately 80,000 tons of waste, contributing to a continuous increase from the 2% and the 1% the two previous years.
Waste keeps Danes warm
Other than an increase in recycled household waste, the new study demonstrates an increase in the import of waste incineration from countries outside of Denmark. In 2014, Denmark imported more than 341,000 tons of waste for incineration, a remarkable increase from the previous 234,000 in 2013 and 164,000 in 2012.
This waste contributes to the production of electricity and heating.
