Miljøprojekt, 894 – Storskraldsordninger - øget genbrug og genanvendelse

Bulky Waste Systems - Increasing Recycling and Reuse

Summary and conclusions

The report gives a survey of the prevalence of bulky waste systems and particular characteristics, a catalogue covering local possibilities for increasing recycling and reuse of bulky waste, and a number of general recommendations.

System types

In Denmark three main kinds of bulky waste collection systems exist:

1. Municipal delivery systems
2. Municipal collection systems
3. Other systems

The municipal delivery systems (container stations) are, today, the most common. Approx. 95% of all the Danish municipalities today operate one or several container stations. By far the main part of these stations are manned during opening hours, and, generally, great weight is attached to rendering well-qualified service and guidance to the users.

During the past 20 years a significant change has taken place in the organisation of the municipal delivery systems, which were previously characterised by unmanned stations, where the quality of the sorted fractions was often very fluctuating.

With the increasing prevalence of manned container stations, a current development of the concept behind the stations has taken place. Today more fractions are being collected for recycling, and requirements for collection of special waste fractions are safeguarded by the municipality through separate containers placed at the container station. During the last few years several municipalities/waste companies have established separate collection of reusable objects.

Apart from a delivery system, two out of three municipalities today operate a collection system for bulky waste. The system either functions as a calling system, where the citizen orders collection of bulky waste, or as route collection. Concurrently with the increasing prevalence of the manned container stations, the project group has seen several examples where a collection system has changed character from route collection to calling collection – at any rate in areas with a great majority of one-family residences. Collection systems seldom offer the same extent of possibility to collect for recycling and reuse as delivery systems, which among other things is due to the fact that it is difficult to handle many fractions on the trucks.

Other systems are established outside the municipal sector – and it is extremely difficult to determine the extent of such systems. As examples of other systems can be mentioned local systems (possibly organised in cooperation between a municipality and private citizens) and collection via humanitarian organisations, etc.

These systems are often based on local commitment and are depending upon volunteers taking an active part.

Quantity

The quantity of bulky waste collected through the municipal collection and delivery systems is according to the Waste Statistics (ISAG) estimated at a total of 679,000 tons (2001). ISAG does not distinguish between quantities handled in collection and delivery systems.

Further, the registered quantity is not identical with the quantity that the municipalities claim that they collect through their bulky waste systems. This is due to the fact that no clear definition exists as to what is considered bulky waste, and, partly, that the assessed quantity in the Waste Statistics is based on redistribution of source types.

An attempt has been made to collect information on the amounts of waste that are being collected intended for reuse. As this is not a question of waste, no registration is being made of reuse. Sorting analyses of containers with selected fractions show that the waste include many products which are potentially reusable. In the fraction "big combustible" 9% of the waste is estimated to be reusable, in "small combustible" the share is 5%, and in small iron and metal 3%. Municipalities with well-established systems for reuse of bulky waste claim that 3 – 4% of the bulky waste can in practice be sorted for the purpose of reuse.

Companies have in several instances the possibility to use the municipal bulky waste systems. Container stations can be used to a limited extent. Presently no data exists as to how much waste is being generated by these companies.

Possibilities for recycling/reuse

Through the involvement of focus groups and surveying of selected bulky waste systems, the possibilities to increase recycling and reuse were evaluated.

Four general preconditions were identified in order to be able to increase the share of bulky waste collected for recycling and reuse. These are:

1. Information
2. Organising
3. Control and service
4. Marketing / sales

In other words, the preconditions for recycling and reusing bulky waste are:

that the citizen is aware of what to do
that he has the possibilities to do it
that he is utilizing the frames set up
that marketing/sales has been secured for the collected products and materials

Factual information ought to be given briefly and precisely. Opinion-forming information is probably of great importance in order to succeed in increasing the share of waste intended for recycling and reuse. Furthermore, it is important that there is openness about the handling of the waste – and it seems also to have a positive influence if the municipality organises "open house" arrangements in order to get in contact with the citizens and the news media. In that connection it should not be forgotten that container stations are one of the municipality's most important faces towards the local community.

The organisation of the system is also important. First of all, the citizen must have the possibility to be able to sort the waste in the appropriate fractions. Container stations, trucks, etc. must be organised in such a way that they encourage the citizens to do this.

Cooperation between the municipality and private citizens/citizen groups is important, especially in the non-municipal systems. The systems are based on local commitment and are voluntary. It is important to support the local commitment, to make sure that the systems are well functioning and are not suffocated in the daily operation of the systems.

Correct sorting of waste requires guidance and control. Guidance and control is best given by persons who have the daily contact with the citizens – this means station staff, collectors, caretakers, etc. In order to offer correct guidance and control, it is important that the employees have the necessary knowledge to be able to reply to formal questions about handling of the waste and to manage the informal dialogue with the citizens.

The project carried out sorting of five containers with waste at municipal container stations. The analysis shows that especially the contents of the fraction "small combustible" could have been sorted much better. It appeared for instance that the greatest part of the contents in "black bags" contained garden waste, paper/cardboard and waste similar to domestic waste. All of these sub-fractions were placed incorrectly – either because the fraction should have been sorted out for recycling, or because the type of waste (domestic waste) must not be disposed of as bulky waste. Almost half of the waste in "small combustible" was packed in black bags. This shows that there is still a need for guidance and control of waste delivered by the citizens as bulky waste.

Marketing/sale of recyclable materials is normally more easy when the waste is found in a considerable quantity of homogenous quality. This can for instance be achieved if municipalities and waste companies cooperate and market greater quantities and in homogenous qualities.

The project furthermore describes a number of system specific possibilities to increase recycling and reuse. Special attention should be drawn to the municipality's responsibility regarding sale of electric products.

The project group has prepared a number of general recommendations as to how recycling and reuse of bulky waste can be increased. The catalogue primarily presents six proposals for targeted multi-purpose activities:

1. Gathering and communicating knowledge through network groups
2. Countrywide waste manual regarding handling possibilities
3. Cooperation between municipality and private citizen groups
4. Information campaigns
5. Communication and compliance with rules
6. Environmental and socio-economic analyses for selected fractions in bulky waste