Date: 24/08/23

• Sweden is considering their future with their Generational Goal which aims to guide environmental action at every level of society.
  • Good human health
  • Sustainable use of natural resources
  • Energy efficiency
  • Patterns of consumption
  • Recovery of ecosystems and conservation of biodiversity
• Member of International Energy Agency (IEA) since 1974. (Same year as Ireland)
• Waste supplies the vast amount of heat especially during the cold months to the country’s 10 million population.

Swedish Waste Management Association

• Know as Avfall Sverige.
• Established in 1974.
• Vision – Zero Waste.
• Works to aid a transition towards a circular economy.
• Guides and motivates citizens and consumers to change their behaviour.
• Supplies the infrastructure necessary for people to do the appropriate sorting for themselves.
• https://sharingsweden.se/materials/envac-underground-waste-disposal-system

Waste to Energy

• 34 Waste to Energy Power Plants in Sweden.

• Use energy content of waste as much as possible.

• Climate change has led this transition of waste to generate power.

  • Buses
  • Apartment heating systems

• The waste is burnt in low-carbon incinerators.

• Food waste is developed into eco-friendly biofuel.

Waste to District Heating

• In Sweden’s second largest city Gothenburg the majority of houses and buildings are connected to a district heating system of underground pipes + cables.
• This Waste to Energy solution uses local resources + excess captured heat from industry + data centres which heats up water allowing it to be administered to everyone connected to the system.
• Therefore 93% of all energy within the system comes from recycled or renewable resources.

The Pant System

• The Swedes recycle about 84% of their used aluminium cans and plastic bottles.
  • Their targets for cans and drink bottles are 90%.
• The Pant System is a can and bottle deposit system which in turn gives people their money back once they recycle.