Go to content

Appendix 4 Collection and sorting of waste in the Nordics

Collection and sorting of CRM-waste in Norway

Most Norwegian waste is collected by companies operating in a free market. Collection and preparation of Norwegian waste streams for recycling is dominated by a few large companies that both operate their own transport fleet and temporary waste storage and pre-treatment plants. These companies include Norsk Gjenvinning, Franzefoss Gjenvinning, Ragnsells and Stena Recycling. They operate plants for sorting, shredding, and other pretreatment before final recycling operations or other end treatments.   

Collection of municipal and household waste

Norway is organized into 356 municipalities that are responsible for the collection and treatment of household waste. This responsibility is detailed in the waste regulation and allows the municipalities to charge its citizens a fee to cover this service. The regulation prohibits this fee from exceeding the actual treatment costs of the collected waste as a way of subsidizing other waste management efforts and must keep separate accounts on statutory waste treatment compared to other waste treatment.
Norwegian municipalities organize waste collection in very different ways when it comes to the number of waste categories collected, what type of collection system is used, and whether the collection takes place in collaboration with other municipalities or not. There are also large differences regarding whether the collection is performed by the municipality themselves, or if the services are bought as a service. Many municipalities have organized common waste treatment services in an inter-municipal enterprise.
Examples of waste categories that are collected separately in many municipalities include paper/cardboard, organic waste, plastic, glass and hazardous waste. The collection is typically performed through the use of containers, and plastic bags. In densely populated areas buried containers for several households are increasingly applied. 

EPR-schemes in Norway

The collection and treatment of some waste streams are regulated by extended producer responsibility agreements (EPR). Norwegian EPR systems exist for packaging, WEE, batteries, vehicles, tires, and PCB-containing windows.
Approved return company
Product
AS Batteriretur
Batteries
Autoretur AS
Vehicles
ERP Norway AS
Batteries, WEE
Grønt Punkt Norge AS
Packaging
Norsirk AS
Batteries, WEE, Packaging
Norsk dekkretur AS
Tires
Recipo AS
Electronics
Renas AS
Batteries, WEE
Serva AS
Batteries
Table A11 EPR schemes approved by the Norwegian Directorate of the Envionment

Collection and sorting of CRM-waste in Sweden

Collection of municipal and household waste

In Sweden, household waste is defined as “waste from households and waste similar to household waste”. (Nordic Report, 2016)
In Sweden, each municipality (290 municipalities) is responsible for the collection, transportation, recycling, and disposal of municipal waste, as mandated by Chapter 15 of the Environmental Act, Section 3. Additionally, waste under municipal jurisdiction falls under Chapter 15, Section 20 of the same act. Municipalities have significant flexibility in shaping their waste regulations and systems to ensure environmentally and health-friendly waste management. The regulations specify collection intervals for different areas and waste fractions. To finance waste management through fees, the municipal council must approve a waste tariff. Typically, waste collection occurs at property boundaries. Material recycling of household waste primarily occurs through the collection at recycling centres, recycling stations, and near-property collection.
 The municipalities are responsible for transporting municipal waste to a treatment plant for recycling or disposal, including waste from households and similar waste from establishments like restaurants, shops, and offices.
Municipal waste is managed jointly by municipalities and producers. Municipalities cover their costs through waste fees, while producers incur charges as a product fee. The municipal council determines municipal waste fees, while producers have control over the product fee's size.
Swedish municipalities can choose how to organize their waste management, in line with the principle of local autonomy enshrined in the constitution. As of 2021, there were 55 wholly-owned municipal companies engaged in waste management. A little over one-third of municipalities handle the collection of food and residual waste in-house, using their own vehicles and staff. In two-thirds of cases, collection is outsourced through procurement. Waste treatment is either done by municipalities themselves or by external contractors through procurement, which can include other municipalities, other municipal companies, or private companies.
In 2022, Sweden collected and processed 4.7 million tons of household waste from households and businesses. This resulted in each Swedish resident generating 449 kg of household waste, a 5% reduction from 2021.
Households in Sweden are obligated to separate recyclable materials such as paper, packaging, electronic waste, batteries, and bulky items. These materials must be deposited in the designated collection systems.
Waste separation practices can vary from place to place. For instance, food scraps and other organic waste are often collected separately for energy recovery and nutrient recycling, with specific rules depending on the treatment process.
In newly built Swedish homes, designated spaces for waste sorting bins are required. Smaller apartments are recommended to have two sorting bins of at least 20 litres in the kitchen and two additional units for flexible placement. Larger apartments should provide a capacity of 30 litres in the kitchen and four extra units for flexible placement. One of the sorting bins must be allocated for food waste, though the exact design may differ based on the local waste sorting regulations in each municipality.

EPR-schemes in Sweden

Sweden enforces producer responsibility for various waste types: packaging, electrical and electronic waste, and batteries in the context of municipal waste management.

Packaging

In 1994, producer responsibility for packaging (including newspapers) was introduced, mandating producers to manage collection and recycling. They established around 5,800 unmanned recycling stations nationwide with containers for different materials. Besides these stations, partnerships between municipalities, property owners, and producers created collection systems near properties. Currently, property-based collection covers 60% of multi-unit residences and under 25% of single-family households.
Starting in 2024, municipalities will assume packaging collection duties, and by 2027, property-based collection will become the primary system for all households and co-located businesses. Producers will remain responsible for recycling and cost coverage, aiming to enhance accessibility and boost recycling.

Electrical Waste and Batteries

Producer responsibility for electrical and electronic products in Sweden led to collaboration between municipalities and producers for waste collection. Organizations like Avfall Sverige, Sveriges Kommuner och Landsting, and El-Kretsen work together through the El-return system. Municipalities collect electrical waste from households while producers manage processing. El-Kretsen collaborates with Recipo, representing producers.
Advancements in recycling technology have made it easier for consumers to participate. For example, consumers can place all small light sources in the same container. Many places, such as galleries and grocery stores, have larger collection bins for smaller electrical waste and light bulbs.
Battery producers are responsible for collecting, processing, and recycling all batteries, regardless of when they entered the market. In roughly 70% of municipalities, El-Kretsen manages portable battery collection, while other municipalities handle collection for a predetermined fee from producers.
The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency (Miljødirektoratet i Sverige: Naturvårdsverket) coordinates environmental efforts in Sweden, overseeing climate, air quality, biodiversity, and more.

Collection and sorting of CRM-waste in Denmark

Collection of municipal and household waste

Denmark’s waste management involves municipalities, joint waste companies, public and private sectors, and government policies. The country consists of 98 municipalities.
 The collection of household and municipal waste faces challenges due to heavy government investment in waste incineration, leading to a surplus of waste and limited recycling facilities. Municipalities own most incineration plants, surpassing waste generation capacity.
In the absence of specific requirements outlined in the Statutory Order on Waste, local authorities enjoy autonomy in determining their waste handling and disposal approaches. While some major local authorities opt to manage and process waste independently, the majority have established collaborative waste management companies. Hazardous waste disposal plants and landfill sites are overseen by public authorities. Household waste collection is often outsourced to private contractors, who often also oversee the collection of industrial waste. Additionally, private contractors actively participate in managing and processing waste for recycling purposes.
A new waste reform, effective since July 2021, mandated a requirement for municipalities to establish separate waste collection services.
 The reform mandates municipalities to collect ten waste fractions from households, including food, paper, cardboard, metal, glass, plastic, textile waste, beverage and food cartons, residual waste, and hazardous waste. These requirements took effect on July 1, 2021, with textile waste becoming effective in 2022. Municipalities are also required to label waste containers using a common pictogram system developed by the Danish Waste Association, which Norway has adopted as well.
In 2020, Denmark generated around 5 million tons of municipal waste, with a high per capita rate of 845 kg, a recycling rate of 53.9%, incineration at 45.2%, and less than 1% sent to landfills.
 Denmark's waste management adheres to national regulations like the Environmental Protection Act and the Statutory Order on Waste.
Early warning assessment related to the 2025 targets for municipal waste and packaging waste

EPR-schemes in Denmark

Denmark has instituted producer responsibility schemes covering electronics, batteries, and vehicles. Additionally, voluntary take-back programs are in place, and efforts are underway to expand existing schemes and introduce new ones. The timeline for producer responsibility implementation is as follows: starting in 2023 for tobacco product filters and in 2025 for packaging materials.

Electronics

For electronics, producers or importers must adhere to specific regulations in Denmark. This includes:
  1. Labelling electronic products in accordance with relevant regulations, including the use of pictograms.
  2. Collecting electronic waste either directly or through agreements with waste collection entities.
  3. Ensuring environmentally approved treatment of collected electronic waste.
  4. Register your business in the national producer registry and report annual quantities of electronics sold and electronic waste collected.

Producers can either fulfil these responsibilities individually or participate in collective compliance arrangements. Collective schemes in Denmark vary in organization and focus based on the type of electrical and electronic equipment being marketed.

Batteries

For batteries, producers and importers must comply with the following rules in Denmark:
  1. Label batteries according to applicable regulations, including pictograms and capacity labelling for portable and automotive batteries.
  2. Create sales and information materials.
  3. Conduct awareness campaigns about the collection of portable batteries.
  4. Register your business in the producer registry.
  5. Report quantities of portable batteries marketed in Denmark annually to SKAT and contribute to municipal collection fees.
  6. Report quantities of automotive and industrial batteries marketed in Denmark annually to the producer registry.
  7. Report collected and processed quantities of portable batteries to the producer registry.
  1. Collect batteries either directly or through agreements with waste collection entities.
  2. Ensure environmentally approved waste treatment for collected batteries.

There is a nominal fee for registration and reporting, often handled through collective schemes.
Battery categories covered include
  1. Portable batteries (single-use or rechargeable, including accumulators).
  2. Automotive batteries (lead accumulators used as starting batteries for combustion engine vehicles).
  3. Industrial batteries (accumulators, including those used in electric vehicles and e-bikes).
These regulations are based on EU directives (Battery Directive) and have been incorporated into Danish law through two notifications and an EU regulation.

Vehicles

Producer responsibility for both new and used cars has been in effect in Denmark since 2007. In practical terms, this means that manufacturers and importers of new and used cars, whether passenger or commercial vehicles, must ensure that all vehicle owners can dispose of their end-of-life vehicles anywhere in the country without incurring disposal fees.
Vehicle owners can confidently deliver their scrap cars to approved dismantlers with whom the vehicle importers have agreements. In Denmark, producer responsibility is supplemented by a scrapping refund system, where 2200 DKK is paid when a scrap car is delivered to an authorized dismantler. The right to return free of charge applies to all vehicles, regardless of their age. Payment of the scrapping refund applies to passenger and commercial vehicles registered in Denmark after July 1, 2000.
Furthermore, Danish importers of new and used passenger and commercial vehicles must be registered in a producer registry to market their vehicles in Denmark legally. The registry is administered by the Danish Producer Responsibility (DPA), and an annual fee is required for registration.
Danish Producer Responsibility (DPA) carries out a number of administrative tasks for the existing extended producer responsibility and the scrapping compensation scheme on behalf of the Danish Environmental Protection Agency (MST). DPA is an independent non-profit organization that was established in 2005 by the business community organizations as part of the Danish implementation of producer responsibility.
Approved return company
Product
Bilretur v. Stena Recycling
Vehicles (only cars)
Elretur
WEE
Emballageretur
Packaging
ERP Denmark
Packaging
Recipo ApS
WEE, Batteries
RENE AG
WEEE, Batteries, Packaging 
ReturBat 
Lead batteries
VANA - Dansk Emballageansvar
Packaging
Table A12 Danish Producer Responsibility Organisations

Collection and sorting of CRM-waste in Finland

Collection of municipal and household waste

Finland defines household waste as “waste generated in permanent dwellings, holiday homes, residential homes and other forms of dwelling, including sludge in cesspools and septic tanks, as well as waste comparable in its nature to household waste generated by administrative, service, business and industrial activities. (Nordic report)
In Finland, municipal waste from households is the responsibility of the country's numerous municipalities. They've streamlined waste management through 39 inter-municipal associations, enhancing infrastructure over the past two decades.
Waste sorting is meticulous in Finland. Materials like paper, cardboard, glass packaging, metal, plastic, bio waste, mixed waste, hazardous waste, electrical equipment, and batteries are usually sorted separately. Housing complexes provide sorting containers for various waste types, and biowaste is converted into compost or biogas, used for heat and electricity.
Finland's commitment to a circular economy led to comprehensive regulations. Municipalities are primarily accountable for household waste, and property owners, waste holders, and housing companies must establish waste collection points. Residents are required to use these points for depositing their waste. Inhabitants of detached houses usually collect mixed waste, but the new waste legislation will require biowaste separation in densely populated areas. Other waste types can be delivered to sorting stations or collection points organized by producers. Hazardous waste is accepted free of charge at specified collection points, while medical waste should be taken to pharmacies.
In Finland there are some instances of free competition in the market for the collection of household waste, i.e. if the waste collection is organised by property holders and not the municipality. 

EPR-schemes in Finland

In Finland, producer responsibility (EPR) extends to various product categories, including
:
  • Accumulators and batteries (including those in vehicles and electronic devices).
  • Passenger, cargo, and recreational vehicles.
  • Packaging.
    • For packaging, producers and importers with a net revenue exceeding EUR 1 million must manage the waste from packaging materials they place on the market. They can do so by either joining a Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO), handling the treatment themselves (by reporting to the ELY Centre of Pirkanmaa), or establishing a PRO in collaboration with other packaging producers.
  • Paper and paper products.
  • Tires.
  • Electrical and electronic equipment.

The ELY Centre of Pirkanmaa oversees producer responsibility compliance nationally, except for Åland, where the Government of Åland assumes this role. ELY compiles official packaging statistics, including quantities, reuse, and recycling rates based on data reported by RINKI and other organizations. Note that these statistics do not encompass packaging from passenger imports, foreign online shopping, producers or importers with a turnover of less than EUR 1 million, or Åland's figures.
While waste from foreign online sales was initially excluded from the EPR system, producers are now required to collect such waste. The new Waste Act (Government of Finland, 2021) introduces measures to regulate online sales:
  • Foreign online sellers must meet EPR obligations, similar to Finnish producers.
  • Marketplace operators can help fulfil EPR requirements.
  • Other foreign operators with producer-like roles can join the EPR scheme.

For PRO compliance, there are five accepted PROs for packaging in Finland, covering various materials such as metals, wood, glass, fibre packaging, and plastic. These PROs collaborate through Finnish Packaging Recycling RINKI Ltd, which coordinates the execution of producer responsibility for packaging. The scope of EPR is set to encompass all packaging materials in the future, as per the revised Waste Act.
Approved return company
Product
Finnish Packaging Producers Ltd 
Packaging
Sumi Oy
Packaging 
Table A13 Finnish Return companies
Miljødirektorat: Ymparisto https://www.ymparisto.fi/en/permits-and-obligations

Collection and sorting of CRM-waste in Iceland

Collection of municipal and household waste

Waste management in Iceland has evolved significantly in recent years. Before 1990, waste disposal mainly involved open pit burning and landfilling. Today, regulations govern incineration and landfill sites in compliance with EU standards. However, compared to Nordic and EU-27 nations, Iceland lags behind in reducing landfill rates and increasing energy recovery and recycling rates. The EU landfill directive sets a target for municipal solid waste (MSW) landfilled to be under 10% by 2035, but currently, it stands at over 60%. In 2019, Iceland generated approximately 237,000 tons of MSW, with 61% (about 144,000 tons) either landfilled or incinerated, including 3,100 tons exported for energy recovery abroad. The remaining 39% was recycled or reused.
Waste management in Iceland: Challenges and costs related to achieving the EU municipal solid waste targets, 2022
In Iceland, local authorities determine household and industrial waste collection arrangements and adopt regional waste treatment plans. The Minister of the Environment, Energy, and Climate sets national waste treatment policy, while the Environment Agency enforces waste treatment legislation. Waste treatment fees are imposed on various product categories to ensure waste producers cover treatment costs, with the Icelandic Recycling Fund managing fee administration.
Despite progress, Iceland's six capital municipalities have previously not recycled household organic waste, and their waste management systems have varied. It has been planned to establish a unified household waste management system, including organic waste collection, by spring 2023. This change allows households to separate four waste types: paper and cardboard, plastic, biowaste, and general waste. Currently, paper and cardboard are the main recyclables. Collection points for other materials, such as metals, textiles, glass, and return packaging, will also expand. Iceland has faced challenges in recycling plastic waste and had to export some to Sweden. The GAJA biogas and composting plant, opened in 2020, aimed to produce soil and biogas but faced controversy due to high plastic content.
Local authorities are responsible for waste collection and waste management arrangements, including the operation of waste reception and collection centres. They also announce waste management aspects in official publications. They often grant permits for landfill operation and waste reception, providing information to the Environment Agency. Stricter rules for separate household waste collection will come into effect from January 1, 2023, with uniform labelling for specific waste categories. The main rule is that certain waste categories must be collected in separate containers at specified locations. Until January 1, 2023, a fixed fee per property unit, based on waste quantity, type, or other factors, is permitted. Afterward, waste management fees will follow a "Pay as you throw away" methodology, considering waste quantity, type, collection frequency, landfilling, and other cost-influencing factors. Up to 25% of a municipality's total costs can still be collected as a fixed fee. In the first two years after implementing these requirements, until January 1, 2025, this percentage may be up to 50%.

EPR-schemes in Iceland

The implementation of the Act on Recycling Fees in Iceland aimed to accomplish several key goals. Its primary purpose was to entrust the Icelandic Recycling Fund with the task of creating favourable economic conditions to encourage reuse and recovery, decrease the amount of waste ending up in final disposal, and ensure the proper management of hazardous substances. Operating as an extended producer responsibility (EPR) scheme, the fund utilizes economic incentives to establish practical waste processing arrangements. Producers and importers are obligated to pay recycling fees for various categories of products, including motor vehicle waste, paper packaging, plastic packaging, tires, bale plastic, hazardous waste, and WEEE. These fees are assessed based on the specific category and can range from ISK 3 to ISK 900 per kilogram (as of 2013).
Iceland's approach differs from that of other EU Member States. Upon importing a product, an automatic notification is sent to the Icelandic Recycling Fund. Consequently, the producer becomes registered with the Environment Agency. To initiate this process, importers must first register with the Customs Authority, while local manufacturers are required to register with the Internal Revenue department. Subsequently, the Icelandic Recycling Fund charges the producer a take-back and recycling fee, assuming both producer responsibility and the responsibility for reporting to the Environment Agency.

Collection and sorting of CRM-waste other autonomic territories in the Nordics 

Collection of municipal and household waste

Greenland

In Greenland, the municipalities, bear the responsibility for the efficient collection and treatment of municipal waste. An environmentally conscious approach has led to the practice of maximizing waste incineration for heat production within Greenland, rather than transporting it across the Atlantic. Electronic and hazardous waste is carefully shipped to Denmark, where facilities ensure proper dismantling of electronic waste and secure storage of hazardous materials for subsequent shipping. Notably, one municipality has implemented a collection system for glass packaging, which is crushed and repurposed in asphalt production. Moreover, in all municipalities, bulky waste is meticulously sorted for direct reuse. In three specific local municipalities, innovative schemes or pilot programs are in place to promote the recycling or reuse of various materials, including glass, metal, wood, paper, cardboard, food waste, and items suitable for direct reuse.

Faroe Islands

The Faroe Islands operate two distinct waste management systems, one managed by Tórshavn municipality, known as Kommunala Brennistøðin, and the other by an inter-municipal company called IRF, responsible for handling waste from the remaining 28 municipalities. Each entity maintains its own incinerator, alongside landfills designated for non-combustible waste such as asbestos. The waste sorting process involves the use of white bags or green bins for paper and cardboard, red bags for hazardous waste, and containers for other non-hazardous or non-recyclable materials, which often include food waste and plastic packaging. Additionally, IRF's hazardous waste collection includes items like lightbulbs, batteries, and small electronics.

Åland Islands

In Åland, waste management adheres to the regulations outlined in the Act of Waste, ÅFS 1981:3 (a copy of the Finnish law), which defines household waste to encompass waste generated by both households and similar waste produced by businesses. The municipalities of Åland bear the responsibility for managing private household waste. Waste management services are efficiently handled by MISE (Ålands Miljöservice). In households throughout the Åland Islands, an effective recycling system is in place for materials such as glass, milk cartons, cardboard, metal, aluminium, plastics, compost, and flammable materials.

EPR-schemes in Greenland, Faroe Island and Åland

Greenland

Greenland, as a non-member of the EU, follows its own path with a slight delay compared to the rest of the world. It draws inspiration from Denmark and the EU but takes more time to establish economically viable systems. Products are exempt from producer responsibility when introduced to Greenland.

Åland Islands

On recycling stations in Åland, only combustible residual waste and separately sorted metal and glass are currently accepted. Other recyclable materials such as paper, plastic, and cardboard are directed either to producer-led collection systems or included in the municipal waste management for energy recovery. For the time being, paper and cardboard are still separately collected outside the Listersby recycling centre for some form of recycling. The reasons for this reduction in the number of recyclable fractions are both economic and environmental. The lack of a functioning producer responsibility system in Åland means there are no economic or legal prerequisites for handling separately sorted waste in a manner compliant with the law and environmentally sound. In practice, there is no effective producer responsibility in Åland of the kind mandated by the EU, especially in relation to recyclable packaging waste. There is no system established and funded by producers for waste collection. Therefore, municipalities lack the conditions to participate in the collection of such waste for recycling until producers address this issue.

Overview of the EPR schemes in the Nordic countries
Nordic report, p. 111, 2016

Table A14 Overview of the EPR schemes in the Nordic countries
 
WEE
BAT
ELV
Packag­ing
Disposable drink containers
Tyres
Graphic paper
Medical waste
Agri­cultural film 
Norway
X
X
X
X
X
X
 
 
 
Denmark 
X
X
X
 
X
X
 
 
 
Sweden
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Finland
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
 
 
Iceland
X
X
X
X
X
X
 
X
X
Greenland
 
 
 
X
X
X
X
 
 
Faroe Islands
X
 
 
X
 
 
 
 
 
Table A15 The legal framework of waste management in the Nordic countries – Definitions and extent of competition (from the Nordic report 2016)
Definition of household/​municipal waste
The extent of municipal exclusive position
Definition of household/​municipal waste
Denmark
Waste is defined by source rather than form.

Household waste is defined as waste gene rated by households, e.g. domestic waste, garden waste.
Municipalities have an exclusive position regarding the collection of all household waste and the collection of commercial waste to incineration and landfills.

In buildings with a mix of undertakings and residents, companies can acquire the services from municipalities.
There is competition in the collection of commercial and industrial recyclable waste.

The collection of house hold waste, combustible and landfillable waste from commercial undertakings is in many cases procured by municipalities from private undertakings.
Faroe Islands
There is a clear distinction between house hold and commercial/industrial waste.

Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) is sub categorised by national laws and regulations.
IRF and KBR, the municipal undertakings, are tasked with all waste management in the Faroe Islands, i.e. both house hold and commercial waste.
There is some competition in respect of the manage ment of scrap metal.

IRF and KBR, the munici pal undertakings, can also procure a part of the servi ces from private under takings.
Finland
Household waste is defined as “Waste generated in permanent dwellings, holiday homes, residential homes and other forms of dwelling, including sludge in cesspools and septic tanks, as well as waste compa rable in its nature to household waste generated by admini strative, service, busi ness and industrial activities.”
The municipal exclusive position extends to household and similar waste as defined by legislation.

The municipality may decide that property holders are responsible to organise the collection of household waste. Even in these cases the munici pality decides how the waste is disposed of. If the municipalities decide to organise the collection themselves, they always procure these services.
There is free competition in the collection and manage ment of waste other than household waste, as defined by law.

There is free competition for the collection of house hold waste in municipalities where the waste collection is organised by property holders and not the municipality. In some cases the municipalities or their undertakings procure a part of the service, e.g. collection of household waste.
Greenland
Each municipality decides how waste is defined within its area. Most municipalities differentiate between the collection of dome stic waste and waste from industrial and commercial facilities.
The municipalities can opt for having in-house waste management services.
In some cases, in larger settlements the waste collection is outsourced to private undertakings.

In smaller settlements the service is usually provided by the municipalities them selves.
All waste facilities i.e. waste transfer stations, incinerators and landfills are owned and operated by municipalities.
Iceland
Waste is defined by its source rather than form.
Household waste is defined as waste from households, e.g. glass, paper, cardboard, plastics, etc.
The municipalities’ exclu sive rights extend to the collection of waste from households. The munici palities also control that waste stream.

Some EPR waste from households may not be collected by municipalities kerbside, e.g. batteries, disposable drink contain ners, hazardous waste, etc.
There is free competition in the collection and further management of comercial and industrial waste.
Municipalities also procure collection services for household waste in most instances.

Whether or not further management, e.g. sorting is a part of the procured service depends on the terms of the procurement contract.
Norway
Waste is defined by source, rather than form.
Household waste is defined as waste from households.

Any waste from non household premises is the responsibility of the undertaking producing the waste. The municipality must monitor that waste emanating from industries which is similar to household waste is properly collected, and that the relevant regulations are adhered to.
The task of collecting and sorting household waste has historically been a public task in Norway and it is still the municipalities' exclusive right pursuant to Section 34 of the Pollution Control Act.
There is free competition in the collection and further management of industrial and commercial waste from undertakings.

Some municipal or inter municipal waste manage ment undertakings procure a part of the services from private undertakings. In some cases municipalities procure the services directly from public or private undertakings.
Nordic Council of Ministers I www.norden.org/publications I pub@norden.org