In Sweden, waste is more than a problem — it is a solution. The country has transformed its waste management strategy into a powerhouse of sustainability, converting discarded materials into clean energy that heats homes and powers industries. Through waste-to-energy (WTE) technology and a deeply ingrained recycling culture, Sweden not only manages waste but turns it into a vital resource. With the country even importing waste to fuel its energy needs, Sweden is leading the charge towards a greener, more efficient future. This article examines how Sweden’s innovative approach is setting new standards for waste management worldwide.
Sweden stands out for its innovative approach to converting waste into energy for heating purposes and electricity. The emphasis on generating energy from waste and the substantial investment in the infrastructure dedicated to this purpose are so significant that Sweden imports waste from other European countries and beyond to keep its incinerators operating optimally. This ensures that homes and workplaces remain warm in winter, while also keeping the engines of the economy running.
Recycling waste is deeply ingrained in daily life, from children in schools to citizens at home. There is even a special day dedicated to recycling, encouraging people of all ages to participate and share their ideas. Moreover, recycling centers are conveniently located within 300 meters of residential areas.
Citizens who use neighborhood recycling machines frequently are rewarded with vouchers. Waste management is made more convenient in new urban townships in Stockholm, where chutes connect homes to waste-to-energy incinerators, allowing users to drop segregated household waste directly into the machines. These machines not only generate energy to electrify homes but also supply heating during the winter months.
Known as the ‘blue ocean’ strategy, this concept offers triple incentives: revenue from recycling domestic and imported waste, low-cost energy for homes, and a large-scale effort to engage communities.
When comparing this green zone to the rest of the world, it becomes evident that many countries are struggling with rising temperatures each summer, mountains of waste being dumped into gas-emitting landfills, and the overuse of fossil fuels to meet ever-increasing energy demands.
WTE Footprint
Sweden’s population is around 10.7 million (2025 estimate, according to the World Population Review), smaller than many other European nations. However, in terms of waste management and waste-to-energy (WTE) initiatives, Sweden leaves a much larger footprint, not only in Europe but also globally. For nations with varying levels of waste management capabilities, there are several aspects to consider.
Avfall Sverige (Swedish Waste Management), a trade association that operates in the waste management and recycling sectors, has 400 members, including municipalities, municipal corporations, and private waste management firms. It acts as the voice for its members, engaging with decision-makers, political bodies, and the media both internally and externally.
The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency and the Ministry of Environment are the official bodies Avfall Sverige coordinates with. Three years ago, Avfall Sverige signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to jointly work towards zero waste and a circular economy.
Together, they aim to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Domestically, Avfall Sverige’s members ensure waste collection and recycling across all municipalities in Sweden. Headquartered in Malmö, the key tasks of the association include overseeing the role of members in waste management, promoting the exchange of experiences, collaborating on development projects, and providing training for both public and private bodies.
Municipal Network
Waste collection and treatment are managed by 290 municipalities, each of which ensures that waste is transported, recycled, or disposed of appropriately. Municipal waste includes residual waste, organic waste, food waste, bulky waste, and hazardous waste.
Municipalities are free to organize their waste management using internal resources or in collaboration with other municipalities, municipal associations, enterprises, political boards, or even private contractors. Waste covered by the Extended Producers Responsibility (EPR) is excluded from this category.
The process of handling different types of waste varies. Residual waste is incinerated, food waste is sent for anaerobic digestion, and garden waste is composted. Bulky waste is separated and either recycled, incinerated, or sent to landfills. Municipalities collect household waste and food waste through bins and containers in doorstep collection systems. Garden waste or hazardous waste is collected through recycling centers or drive-and-drop waste sites.
Each municipality is responsible for drafting a municipal waste plan, which outlines targets, measures, and steps for managing and preventing waste. Municipalities finance activities by levying municipal fees, which are decided by the council. These fees cover costs related to containers, collection, centers, information, recycling, planning, and administration, and can include incentives for recycling. The fee is paid by the property owner — for example, a single-family household paid an average of SEK 2,542 in 2022, while apartment households paid an average of SEK 1,528.
EPR and Landfill Tax
Under the Extended Producers Responsibility (EPR) scheme, producers are responsible for financing the collection and treatment of waste. The cost to producers is reflected in the price of the product. Companies handle their own waste, design products to be easily recyclable, and pay in advance.
EPR is mandatory for specific waste streams such as cars, tires, medicines, batteries, packaging, and newspapers. In 2023, the EPR scheme expanded to cover tobacco and filters, wet wipes, balloons, and fishing equipment. To discourage the dumping of residual or biodegradable waste in landfills, Sweden has implemented a landfill tax on landfill operators (SEK 725 per tonne in 2024). This tax, introduced in 2020 and adjusted annually, has resulted in only one% of Sweden’s waste reaching landfills in 2022, compared to a global average of 60% .
Another tax, the incineration tax (which was started in 2020), has now been scrapped. Sweden’s WTE plants have such high capacity that, compared to the domestic waste available for incineration, they import waste from other countries willing to pay for the service. The incineration process is not as environmentally harmful as might be expected.
Ashes, which contain metals, are extracted for use in road construction, and the smoke produced during incineration is filtered to meet air quality standards. The remaining ash is treated before being sent to landfills.
Food Waste to Biogas
Sweden’s deposit system for recycling PET bottles and aluminum cans is effectively organized by supermarkets and beer producers. The biological treatment of food waste through anaerobic digestion and composting plants reached 459,100 tonnes three years ago.
The main goal of this treatment is to circulate nutrients within the ecosystem. Anaerobic digestion is the most common method used to treat food waste, producing biogas (methane and carbon dioxide), a renewable energy source. After upgrading, carbon dioxide is removed and used as vehicle fuel or in industrial processes, including heating and electricity generation.
Avfall Sverige Takes the Lead
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) works with 170 partner countries and territories, and in 2022, the Swedish Waste Management group collaborated on a project involving municipalities from four continents. This initiative provided a forum for cooperation and the sharing of strategies on smart waste management while moving toward sustainability goals globally.
Together with domestic and international partners, Avfall Sverige offers technical advice to municipalities worldwide on infrastructure development, finance, governance, communication, and training.
Future Challenges
Sweden is facing new challenges, such as meeting the new recycling targets—55% by 2025 and 60% by 2030 — and a 70% target for packaging waste by 2030. From 2023, it became mandatory to collect food waste, and starting in 2025, textiles will also need to be collected. Amendments to Swedish waste legislation will require municipalities to handle the collection of waste covered by EPR schemes, while producers will be responsible for recycling.
By 2027, 100% of residential buildings or areas should have facilities for waste collection. Sweden launched compulsory food waste collection last year, with the goal of collecting 70% of food waste by 2029.