Provisional figures from Statistics Norway show that every Norwegian generated on average 424 kilos of household waste in 2010. Each of us threw nearly 70 percent more waste in 2010 than in 1995.

Growth in total waste quantity of over 30 per cent since 1995

A total of 9.5 million tonnes of waste was generated in Norway in 2010. This was an increase of 3 per cent from the year before. Industrial waste accounts for 77 percent of the total waste quantity, while households contribute to 23 percent.

We have a national target which states that the total quantity of waste shall be considerably lower than the growth in the economy. Overall, for the entire period from 1995 to 2010, the waste quantity grew by 34 percent, while GDP grew by 39 percent. 

We recover more than 80 per cent of the waste

Twenty years ago, it was common to landfill most of the waste in Norway. Since then, the proportion of the waste that is landfilled has decreased, while the proportion that is recovered has increased correspondingly. In 2010, approximately 82 per cent of the waste was recovered.

Waste contains resources, both energy and materials, which can be recovered in the recycling process. Material recovery involves using the materials as raw material in new production of goods and energy is also saved by not using virgin materials. Aluminium recycling is a good example of such practices. If the waste is not landfilled, but used to replace fossil fuels, greenhouse gas emissions are further reduced.

The figure shows that material recovery and biological treatment account for over 40 per cent of the waste recovered. About 30 per cent is incinerated with energy recovery.

The environmental impact of waste treatment and disposal depends on:

• the volume of waste produced and its composition
• the amounts illegally disposed of,
• the amounts that are landfilled or incinerated
• the standards at the treatment plants

Final treatment of waste means landfilling or incineration, and the two treatment methods result in different environmental impacts.

Landfilling leads to the generation and release of methane, a greenhouse gas. Furthermore, hazardous chemicals may be released to the environment through sewage water. Landfilling also represents a threat for coming generations as emissions continue for a very long time after waste is deposited.

Incineration of waste may lead to emissions of flue gases containing hazardous chemicals, dust and acidic components.

Economic growth, or growth in production and consumption, is the key driving force behind the escalating waste volumes. Larger homes, higher housing standards, frequent decoration and reconstruction, and increased spending on furniture and household appliances are typical examples of how affluence generates waste. Our lifestyle also dictates how much waste we produce. A hectic schedule makes disposable products attractive, and buying new products can be more appealing than repairing old ones. 

Greater awareness

Greater awareness of waste problems and involvement in the waste debate can be important factors in reversing growth trends. Local interest can create political pressure that results in environmentally sound solutions and greater awareness of waste and environmental issues. The business and industry sector is showing a growing interest in using the environmental benefits of its products as a marketing strategy. This helps reduce waste generation, and the amounts of hazardous substances in products.

Waste management is regulated in various ways, and there is an interplay between regulation at central and local levels. The central government authorities set the general framework, leaving municipalities and industry with a relatively high degree of discretion to design local collection and treatment solutions.  

The authorities have put in place a number of instruments (e.g. legislation, taxes, economic incentives) targeted at the municipalities, business and industry. Their full effect is expected to increase. However, there is concern about recent trends. The need for new measures is therefore being considered. Such measures will be designed mainly to develop and complement those that are already in place.

The most important waste policy instruments are:

• municipal responsibility for household waste
• business and industry responsibility for dealing with the waste they generate, including the collection and appropriate treatment of certain types of waste products, such as ee-waste, packaging, cars, tyres, batteries, lubricant oil and PCB-windows
• regulation of landfilling and incineration according to EU legislation
• tax on landfilling of waste
• waste management plans as a mandatory element of all building projects, as part of municipal administrative procedures
• landfilling of biodegradable waste is prohibited, as of July 1st 2009