Policy Papers

Siarhei Sysoyeu | 22.09.2020

The review of municipal waste collection and treatment systems in Sweden and Finland

The paper analyzes municipal waste collection and treatment systems in Sweden and Finland. The review shows that a significant achievement of the Swedish system of municipal waste management is a low percentage of municipal waste disposed at landfills. Besides, the system of municipal waste management is mainly focused on using collected waste for energy recovery. This gives a positive result - many apartments in Sweden are supplied with heating and electricity due to energy recovery. This saves other energy resources, most of which the country imports. However, there are several municipal waste sorting systems in Sweden. Therefore, a number of municipalities collect and transport only organic and residual waste, and residents have to dispose of plastic, glass and other types of packaging at FTI automated stations. This leads to additional costs for households. The Finnish municipal waste management system is focused on energy recovery and is therefore similar to the Swedish one. The review made it possible to formulate a number of recommendations regarding the waste collection system in Belarus. For example, only the widespread introduction of a system of separate waste collection by fractions can increase the level of waste recovery and recycling in Belarus. In addition, the location of waste bins should be convenient for the households, otherwise the waste will not be properly sorted or disposed of in unidentified places.

This Policy Paper is available only in Russian.