Sweden is a leader in transforming waste into energy, setting a global example for sustainability.

Sweden is a pioneer in environmental initiatives, from 'plogging'—a fitness trend where runners collect trash—to groundbreaking collaborations like brewing beer from purified wastewater to promote recycling. While some claim that Sweden's rigorous recycling efforts have led to a shortage of waste for its energy plants, they still import garbage from other countries, though this claim isn't entirely accurate.

Sweden excels at reducing its reliance on landfills, sending just a tiny fraction of its waste to the dump compared to the U.S. In 2016, only 31,000 tons of the 4.7 million tons of waste were buried, thanks to an advanced waste management system, as reported by Avfall Sverige, Sweden's waste management association.

In Sweden, recycling is a legal obligation, and most citizens carefully separate their household waste, either leaving it at the curb for pickup or taking it to recycling stations. These stations are conveniently located within 1,000 feet (300 meters) of every residential area, according to Sweden.se, the country's official website.

"Recycling nearly everything is now a social norm in Sweden," explains Owen Gaffney, a global sustainability analyst at Stockholm Resilience Centre and Future Earth. "Local governments have made it easy, and once these habits are ingrained, it's almost uncomfortable when traveling to other countries without accessible recycling options. I experience what I call 'recycle anxiety.'"

According to a report from Avfall Sverige, more than half of Sweden's household waste is either recycled, composted, or processed through anaerobic digestion. This is far superior to the 34.6 percent recycling and composting rate in the United States.

Waste to Energy

Nearly half of Sweden's household waste is incinerated in 33 waste-to-energy (WTE) plants, providing heat for 1.2 million Swedish households and electricity for another 800,000, according to Anna-Carin Gripwall, the communications director for Avfall Sverige.

"Since we live in a frigid climate, heating is essential," Gripwall mentions in a Skype interview.

In Sweden, the energy from burning waste is utilized efficiently because half of the nation's buildings now depend on district heating. This system involves a centralized heating plant that warms the buildings rather than each one operating its own boilers or furnaces, as outlined in an article by Euroheat & Power. For example, in Gothenburg, burning waste provides heat for 27 percent of the city, as shown in a 2011 case study from C40.org.

Waste-to-energy (WTE) facilities have sparked controversy in the U.S., as discussed in a February 27, 2018 article from The Conversation, due to concerns about toxic emissions and CO2. Ana Baptista, chair of the Environmental Policy & Sustainability Management Program at the New School, stated in an email, "Burning trash is not a form of recycling."

A 2017 report from Eunomia, a British environmental consultancy, and Resource Media, which also did not consider waste-to-energy as recycling, placed Sweden 12th in the world for recycling, behind countries such as the Netherlands and Luxembourg.

In Sweden, environmental activist Gaffney views waste-to-energy (WTE) as having more advantages. "It is not a perfect solution," he says. "Toxic chemicals are now very low due to strict regulations. However, carbon dioxide emissions remain a concern. But are they worse than fossil fuels? Much of the biomass waste will naturally emit greenhouse gases as it decays, which is part of the natural carbon cycle. When you calculate it, the emissions from burning waste are comparable to those from natural gas." The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has reached the same conclusion.

Waste From Other Countries

Sweden does accept and burn trash from other nations, but Gripwall points out that the Swedes are compensated for that service. In 2014, the country reportedly earned $800 million for disposing of 2.3 million tons (2.08 million metric tons) of waste from other countries, according to Swedish news outlet SvD Näringsliv. She also mentions that the waste could be substituted with other materials, as Sweden has already made significant investments in high-tech incinerators and district heating, making it simpler for other countries to send their waste to Sweden.

Ultimately, Sweden's goal is to cut down on the amount of waste it generates. In 2015, Avfall Sverige initiated an ongoing campaign to encourage people to consume more responsibly and waste less. "We don’t tell people to consume less, because that’s not our mission, and it wouldn't be well received," Gripwall explains. "Instead, we focus on sustainable consumption—thinking carefully about what and how we buy. Choose durable products, and consider sharing items you don’t use often."

The organization specifically focuses on reducing food waste—not by emphasizing its environmental impact, but by reminding consumers about the financial cost. "In Sweden, we throw away one out of every four or five grocery bags we purchase, because we buy too much or store it incorrectly," Gripwall states. "That’s money literally thrown away. People understand that. When shopping, make a list. Check your fridge before going to the store so you know what you already have. It’s a simple message to convey."