Waste Statistics 1997

1. Introduction

In 1993, the ISAG (Information System for Waste and Recycling) was used for the first time. The results of the fifth ISAG reports for the year 1997 are presented in this publication.

Reports to the ISAG for 1997 cover 424 plants distributed on 317 enterprises. In 1996, reports covered 436 plants distributed on 307 enterprises.

The general picture for 1997 shows that:

	Total waste amounts are almost similar to 1996. This can mainly be attributed to a drop of 24 per cent in waste amounts from coal-fired power plants.
	Overall waste management objectives laid down in the Government's Plan of Action for waste and recycling 1993-97 have been attained. This can mainly be attributed to a high rate of recycling for construction and demolition waste.
	Recycling of domestic waste and bulky waste from households, and waste from institutions, trade and offices remains significantly below the objectives of the Plan of Action.
	Landfilling of waste from industry is still too high.

In 1997, waste generation amounted to 12,857,000 tonnes. Compared to 1996, this is a decrease in waste amounts of 0.5 per cent, corresponding to 55,000 tonnes.

However, this decrease covers large variations in waste arisings in different sectors and can first and foremost be attributed to a decrease of 557,000 tonnes in the generation of residues from coal-fired power plants. This decrease is due to reduced exports of power to Norway and Sweden, as a consequence of a rainy year which meant that these two countries were able to cover more of their power needs by domestic hydropower.

If residues from power plants are not included in statistics, there has been an increase in waste amounts of 502,000 tonnes, which corresponds to some 5 per cent.

70 per cent of this increase of 502,000 tonnes can be attributed to construction and demolition waste arisings which increased by 11 per cent from 3,088,000 tonnes in 1996 to 3,427,000 tonnes in 1997. This increase in construction and demolition waste is explained by high activity in the building and construction sector. The activity in this sector has been on the increase since early 1996 and seems to have peaked early 1998.

Waste amounts from manufacturing industries, institutions, trade and offices, and wastewater treatment plants also increased, though only by between 1 and 4 per cent.

If both slag/fly ash and construction and demolition waste amounts are kept apart, an increase of 2 per cent can be seen.

By contrast, total waste amounts from households were almost similar to 1996: in 1997, 2,776,000 tonnes were generated in this sector against 2,767,000 tonnes in 1996. Of this, domestic waste amounts decreased by 2 per cent from 1,654,500 tonnes in 1996 to 1,620,800 tonnes in 1997. Bulky waste amounts decreased by 8 per cent from 639,100 tonnes in 1996 to 587,700 tonnes in 1997, and garden waste amounts increased by 10 per cent to 442,700 tonnes in 1997.

Total recycling in 1997 attained a rate of 63 per cent against 60 per cent in 1996. 20 per cent of waste was incinerated in 1997 against 19 per cent in 1996. Landfilling decreased to a rate of 16 per cent in 1997 against 20 per cent in 1996. Special treatment still accounted for 1 per cent.

If again residues from coal-fired power plants are kept apart from overall statistics, the rate of recycling in 1997 amounted to 61 per cent, whereas 24 per cent was incinerated and 15 per cent landfilled. If also construction and demolition waste is kept apart - which does account for a high rate of recycling - recycling of all other waste types reached 47 per cent, whereas 34 per cent was incinerated, and 18 per cent landfilled.