Waste Statistics 1998
2. Waste Generation
| 2.1 | Generation |
| 2.2 | Treatment of waste in 1998 |
| 2.2.1 | Without slag, fly ash and construction/demolition waste |
| 2.3 | Treatment by sources and waste types |
2.1 Generation
Total Danish waste generation in 1995, 1996, 1997 and 1998 distributed on sources is shown in Table 1 and Figure 1.
The following changes in waste generation from 1997 to 1998 may be pointed out:
 | Total waste generation in 1998 amounted to 12,233,000 tonnes, which is 624,000 tonnes less than in 1997, corresponding to a decrease in waste amounts of 5 per cent. |
| Overall, waste generation in households increased slightly in 1998 compared to 1997: 2,796,000 tonnes in 1998 against 2,776,000 tonnes in 1997. This increase covers an increase in domestic waste amounts of 5 per cent, from 1,620,800 tonnes in 1997 to 1,702,400 tonnes in 1998. Furthermore, bulky waste amounts decreased by 3 per cent from 587,700 tonnes to 572,400 tonnes, and garden waste amounts decreased from 442,700 tonnes in 1997 to 438,300 tonnes in 1998. |
| Waste from institutions, trade and offices increased by 94,000 tonnes, corresponding to 11 per cent. |
| Waste generation in manufacturing industries etc. has been relatively stable. There has been a minor increase of 2 per cent or 47,000 tonnes. |
| Waste generation from building and construction activities decreased by 14 per cent or 465,000 tonnes. |
| Waste generation at wastewater treatment plants has been relatively stable from 1997 to 1998. |
| Waste generation at coal-fired power plants decreased by 17 per cent, from 1,775,000 tonnes in 1997 to 1,469,000 tonnes in 1998. |
Figure 1 Look here!
The decrease in total waste generation is mainly due to a relatively large decrease in waste amounts from building and construction activities and coal-fired power plants. The decrease in construction and demolition waste amounts may be attributed to the recession in the building and construction sector in 1998. The decrease in waste amounts from coal-fired power plants is due to modest power exports to Norway and Sweden and to increasing use of natural gas and sustainable energy sources instead of coal in energy generation.
Waste generation at coal-fired power plants not only depends on Danish consumption, but also on weather conditions in Sweden and Norway. It is therefore reasonable to keep amounts of slag and fly ash apart from overall statistics. In that case, total waste amounts decreased by 3 per cent. If also construction and demolition waste is kept apart, waste amounts increased by 2 per cent.
2.2 Treatment of waste in 1998
Developments in treatment of total waste amounts are shown below. Treatment is furthermore related to targets for treatment in the Danish Government’s Waste Management Plan 1998 - 2004, Waste 21.
Table 2 shows that 7,542,000 tonnes or 62 per cent of total waste amounts were recycled in 1998, corresponding to a decrease of 1 percentage point compared to 1997. Waste incinerated in 1998 amounted to 2,740,000 tonnes or 22 per cent, corresponding to an increase of 2 percentage points compared to 1997. In 1998, waste amounts going to landfill decreased compared to 1997: 1,868,000 tonnes corresponding to 15 per cent.
According to Waste 21, targets for stabilising developments in waste amounts shall be supplemented by a number of qualitative elements, such as better utilisation of resources in waste, quality in treatment and mitigation of problems relating to environmental contaminants in waste.
In general, the new targets for sectors and fractions mean that recycling will increase, more waste will be incinerated, and landfill capacity needs will decrease. Therefore, Waste 21 draws up a number of general targets for waste treatment that are different from targets in the previous waste management plan, The Government’s Plan of Action for Waste and Recycling 1993-97.
Waste 21 targets for waste management in year 2004 are: 64 per cent recycling, 24 per cent incineration and a maximum of 12 per cent landfilling.
Figure 2 Look here!
Figure 2 shows that amounts of waste for landfilling decreased in 1998, but there is still some way to go before the targets of Waste 21 have been met.
It is assessed that the decrease in amounts of waste going to landfill is mainly due to the ban on landfilling of waste suitable for incineration. Furthermore, amounts of residues from coal-fired power plants have decreased, and they are furthermore recycled to a higher extent than in previous years where they were mainly landfilled.
2.2.1 Without slag, fly ash and construction/demolition waste
As mentioned above, the decrease in total waste amounts is mainly due to the decrease in waste amounts from coal-fired power plants and the building and construction sector. Therefore, it is interesting to keep waste from building and construction activities and residues from power plants apart from statistics and take a closer look at treatment of remaining waste fractions.
If residues from coal-fired power plants are kept apart, 58 per cent of remaining waste was recycled in 1998. This is a decrease of 3 percentage points compared to 1997. The proportion of remaining waste incinerated increased slightly from 24 per cent in 1997 to 26 per cent in 1998, whereas the proportion landfilled in 1998 remained unchanged from 1997.
In absolute figures this means that without slag and fly ash, 10,764,000 tonnes of waste were generated in 1998. Of this, 6,283,000 tonnes were recycled, 2,740,000 tonnes were incinerated, 1,658,000 tonnes were landfilled, and 84,000 tonnes were subjected to special treatment.
If also construction and demolition waste is kept apart from statistics, it is seen that no significant changes have taken place in the distribution among treatment options compared to 1997: 46 per cent of waste was recycled, whereas 35 per cent was incinerated and 18 per cent landfilled, cf. figure 3.
Residues from coal-fired power plants and construction and demolition waste are thereby seen to have a large impact on fulfilment of targets for treatment of waste.
Figure 3 Look here!
2.3 Treatment by sources and waste types
Figure 4 shows total waste generation in Denmark in 1998, distributed on sources and mode of treatment. Figure 5 shows waste generation distributed on waste type and mode of treatment. Tables with detailed figures are given in Annex 1.
Figure 4 Look here!
It is seen from Figure 4 that the rate of recycling is particularly high when it comes to waste from building and construction activities, wastewater treatment plants and coal-fired power plants.
Targets for recycling in Waste 21 are met regarding waste from building and construction activities and sewage sludge, whereas there is still a little way to go before targets are met for residues from coal-fired power plants.
Waste from manufacturing industries also has a relatively high rate of recycling: 56 per cent. But still there is some way to go before the Waste 21 target of 65 per cent is met. The reason is that too much industrial waste is landfilled: 27 per cent. The target for year 2004 is 15 per cent.
Similarly, the rate of recycling of waste from institutions, trade and offices is not high enough in relation to the targets in Waste 21. In 1998, only 35 per cent of this waste was recycled, and the target for year 2004 is 50 per cent. While the target for incineration of waste from this source has almost been met, there is still a long way to the target of a maximum of 5 per cent landfilling.
Figure 5 also shows that treatment of household waste does not meet the targets of Waste 21. With a rate of recycling of, for example, domestic waste of 17 per cent in 1998 there is still a long way to the target of 30 per cent recycling in year 2004.
Figure 5 Look here!