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Kortlægning af papir- og pappotentialet fra private husstande i 2003

Summary and conclusions

Methodology

The study is based on data from a number of registers published by the trade associations. In addition, key players from daily newspapers and magazines, etc. and the distribution link were interviewed. Furthermore, the editorial offices at the daily newspapers, local free papers and weekly and monthly magazines as well as the print sites were contacted.

Scope of Study

The study focuses on the following categories of paper from private households: Daily newspapers, local free papers, weekly and monthly magazines, trade and scientific magazines, bulletins for members of an organisation, telephone directories, unaddressed printed matter and addressed mail. Furthermore, an evaluation of recyclable paper and recyclable cardboard from private households is included.

Thus, the survey does not cover the volume of paper used for household or cleaning purposes, gift paper, rubbish bags, dirty and wet paper and cardboard, beverage containers, etc. (plastic and metal-laminated cardboard) as well as large packaging made of corrugated cardboard. These categories are assumed to be part of the remaining category of refuse collection or of bulky waste (corrugated cardboard).

Private Households/Business

The estimates were based on the fact that all sold and distributed newspapers (daily newspapers as well as local free papers), weekly and monthly magazines as well as trade and scientific magazines are primarily disposed of by private households.

For the categories unaddressed print matters, addressed mails, miscellaneous paper and cardboard, it was possible to distinguish between private households and industry. The categories weekly and monthly magazines as well as trade and scientific magazines and bulletins for members of an organization are estimated to be disposed of only by private households, and will therefore be considered along the lines used for the above-mentioned categories.

The remaining categories: daily newspapers, local free papers and telephone directories, were estimated based on the number of companies liable to VAT in the various municipalities. It is assumed that each company receives one daily newspaper, one local free paper as well as one telephone directory. Thus, the potential from the private households is decreased since a part of the potential volume is disposed of through the companies.

Procedure

As the first step of the study, the necessary data was collected by contacting a number of key players within the sector. In addition, a database is established for processing of the collected data.

The second step comprises an estimate of the paper potential distributed on the municipalities. The basic information (numbers printed), which was used for the estimation of distribution on municipalities, is not present at the same geographical or administrative level. In order to be able to convert data with different geographical frames of reference to one common frame, several estimation steps are required.

Efforts were made to distribute all numbers printed at the most detailed level, i.e. the postal districts. Subsequently, the postal districts were identified within the municipalities. Due to the lack of accordance between postal districts and municipalities, the numbers printed in postal district are equally distributed on all households in the district. Subsequently, the district is split up and the numbers printed are grouped with the municipalities covering the postal district. This division is carried out by means of a municipality key, which establishes a reference between the individual household in a postal district and the administrative authority, the municipality.

Calculation

The listing of the relevant paper categories is quantitative, with the exception of two categories: miscellaneous paper and cardboard. Miscellaneous paper (sales packaging made of paper/cardboard as well as other types of clean and dry paper) is based on an estimate of the findings from existing waste analyses, whereas the category "cardboard" was estimated on information presented in Packaging Supply in Denmark in 2000 as well as findings from existing waste analyses.

The calculation method is quite simple. The weight of a paper/magazine is multiplied by the total numbers printed on a yearly basis for each publication. In this way a total weight - based on a year - is calculated for each publication. The total weight of all publications is added up, thus giving the total distribution volume for the private households.

In those cases where the weight of the publication of a magazine/paper is not available, it must be calculated. For each publication information has been collected, such as numbers printed, publication frequency, paper quality (grams per m²), number of pages and paper size. Based on this data, the total weight on a yearly basis is calculated.

Findings

The methodology used results in an estimated paper and cardboard potential for private households of approx. 413,700 tonnes in 2003. The distribution of this potential into categories is shown in Table 1.

Table 1. Paper and Cardboard Potential 2003. Private households

1 Only applies for telephone directories, which are not distributed by Post Danmark (the Danish postal services) since these distributors are included in the category "unaddressed printed matters".

The total paper and cardboard potential in private households is estimated at 413,700 tonnes; equivalent to 167 kg per household. Daily newspapers and local free papers account for 33 per cent of the total potential of a household.

The estimated country average, however, comprises large disparities both with regard to the composition as well as with regard to the total volume. The variation for each category is shown in Table 2 as an interval estimated in kg/household per municipality.

Table 2. Variation in volume per household 2003

1) Volume at country level is distributed proportionally in accordance with the number of households in the community.

2) Only applies for telephone directories not distributed by Post Danmark since those distributors are covered by the category "unaddressed printed matters".

3) Exclusive of households having registered for "No Advertisements, Please"

It appears from Table 2 that where a potential of 130 kg per household per year is noted in one municipality, another municipality has 75 kg more paper per household, i.e. 205 kg. This is due to the scope and character of the distributed publications.

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Version 1.0 December 2005, © Miljøstyrelsen.