Waste and recycling
The most environmentally friendly way to improve resource management of materials, is to prevent the generation of waste.
Any waste that does arise must be properly disposed of to avoid harm to human health and the environment, and to enable a circular economy.
One common factor for succeeding with increased resource management, is that it must be easy to do the right thing. Waste management systems must be easily accessible and perceived to be effective. The challenge facing the City is to find smart collection systems that suit a big city and work for everyone.
One of the seven goals in the City of Stockholm’s environment programme 2020-2023 is "A resource-smart Stockholm". This goal includes three interim goals:
- Reduced resource utilisation and smarter consumption
- Increased recirculation of material resources within the City
- Increased resource efficiency in connection with the construction process.
Material recycling and food waste collection are both increasing in Stockholm. The national interim food waste goal for 2020 reads: At least 50% of food waste from households, commercial kitchens, shops and restaurants is sorted and treated biologically. The City of Stockholm has a higher level of ambition, that the collection rate shall be 60% in 2020 and increase to 70% in 2021.
As of 1 January 2021, it is mandatory for restaurants and commercial kitchens in the City of Stockholm to sort food waste from other waste.
Organisation
Stockholm Vatten och Avfall AB is responsible for the management of Stockholmers’ household waste and other waste; such as electrical, bulky and hazardous waste within the City of Stockholm. This responsibility also includes operating the City’s recycling centres and the mobile recycling station.
Stockholm Vatten och Avfall’s website
Stockholm Vatten och Avfall is also responsible for the management of household waste from companies. Special rules apply to other waste management services for business operators.
The Environment and Health Authority exercises its public authority to ensure that various activities in the City comply with the provisions of the Environmental Code, for example the supervision of hazardous waste.
Environment and Health Department
The Transport Department and a number of City District Departments offer sorting of waste at source at some locations in the urban environment.
The Packaging Collection Service (FTI) is a nationwide organisation in charge of recycling stations for household packaging and newspapers.