01/10/2025
Sweden has become so efficient at recycling and waste management that it’s facing an unexpected problem: not enough garbage. With 99% of household waste recycled or recovered, the country has turned to importing waste from other nations, including the UK, Norway, and Italy to fuel its waste-to-energy (WtE) plants.
Sweden incinerates non-recyclable waste to produce electricity and district heating, powering homes and businesses.
This process accounts for roughly 10% of Sweden’s energy consumption, making it a key part of their circular economy.
Advanced sorting and recycling tech means less waste is generated domestically hence the need to import.
Sweden’s WtE model reduces landfill use and lowers greenhouse gas emissions compared to fossil fuels.
It’s a blueprint for how sustainability can scale: turning a global problem into a local resource.
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