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Kortlægning af affald i dansk dagligvarehandel English SummaryFor a period of three weeks 24 grocery stores sorted their waste as part of a project with the purpose of mapping waste arisings in the Danish groceries sector. The stores were selected according to their size and turnover in order to ensure the best possible representation of the structure in the groceries sector. On the basis of the waste sorting in these stores, key figures were calculated for different waste fractions in five categories of grocery stores. Different pictures of the composition of waste were drawn up for the five categories: hypermarkets, department stores, supermarkets, grocer’s shops and discount stores. Supermarkets and department stores generate most waste in relation to their turnover. The total amount of waste in these categories was calculated at well over 2 tonnes per one million Danish kroner turnover. For hypermarkets, grocer’s shops, and discount stores, the total amount of waste was calculated at 1.5 tonnes per one million Danish kroner turnover. Waste cardboard and plastic arisings were at almost the same level in all store categories. Despite variations among the individual stores, the key figure for waste cardboard arisings is about 700 kg per one million turnover in grocer’s shops. In discount stores the key figure for cardboard is 850 kg. The explanation of the higher amount of cardboard in discount stores is the fast circulation of a large number of articles that are often packed in cardboard upon delivery. Since waste cardboard arisings are at a very high level in all store categories, as a starting point sorting of cardboard should be ensured. Contrary to expectations, the project was not able to demonstrate any differences in waste arisings among the stores using returnable packaging such as boxes of hard plastic to a large extent and stores using less returnable transport packaging. Waste plastic is another fraction where key figures for the five categories of stores are relatively similar – approximately 25 kg plastic for each million turnover. This is rather low in comparison to key figures used in the Danish Environmental Protection Agency: 50 kilos waste plastics per one million turnover. Variations among the categories of stores are larger when it comes to organic waste and waste for incineration. Especially for supermarkets, the key figures should be considered as average values, as relatively large variations were found. This is explained to a large extent by differences in discarded articles - especially in speciality departments such as bakeries or delicatessen. Today, the major part of organic waste from the groceries sector is not source separated and treated separately, but sent for incineration. However, the project demonstrated that organic waste accounts for a considerable proportion of total waste arisings. This means that there is a large potential of diversion of organic waste away from incineration, which is important for the coming national strategy for organic waste management. Key Figures – waste arisings in relation to turnover
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