Sweden’s Waste Strategy: Energy Instead of Landfills
- yes or no Redaktion
- Mar 16
- 3 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
Only 1 percent of Swedish waste ends up in landfills – a global top mark, compared to the average of 37 percent. Sweden recycles 99 percent of its waste, primarily through thermal conversion into electricity and heat. The system is so successful that the country even imports waste.
“By taking care of what society has thrown away and that cannot be recycled,” says Kristina Bäckstrand, Sustainability Manager at the Swedish utility company Mälarenergi, “we can heat the city and enable hot showers, supply cooling for hospitals and industries – and at the same time supply Sweden with electricity.” The key: turning waste into energy – known as Waste-to-Energy.
Minimal Landfill Waste and Reduced Environmental Impact
Thanks to Waste-to-Energy and recycling, Sweden's landfill rate is just 1 percent, a record low. In comparison: the EU landfilled around 22.4 percent of municipal waste in 2023; Germany still landfilled 16.3 percent in 2022. The EU’s goal: reduce landfill rates to a maximum of 10 percent by 2035.
Landfills are considered the most harmful form of waste disposal. Kristina Bäckstrand explains: “Waste in landfills not only produces greenhouse gases such as methane, but also lead to leakage of toxic chemicals into the water and soil in the neighborhood – and that for a long time.” According to Germany’s Environmental Agency, methane is 84 times more harmful to the climate than CO₂ over a 20-year period.
Efficient Waste Utilization and Sustainable Energy Production
Waste-to-Energy is crucial for meeting EU climate targets. Mälarenergi demonstrates how it's done: the utility operates one of Sweden’s largest Waste-to-Energy plant in Västerås, featuring advanced flue gas cleaning and up to 90 percent energy efficiency – far above traditional heating plants. Kristina Bäckstrand adds: “We use combined heat and power production technology, which enables more efficient energy use compared to traditional district heating.”
Waste-to-Energy plays a central role in Sweden: in 2022, the country produced 18 TWh[1] of heat and 3 TWh[2] of electricity this way – enough to supply 1.2[3] million households. Sweden views waste incineration as a sustainable solution. Anna-Carin Gripwall, Communications Director of the Swedish Waste Management and Recycling Association “Avfall Sverige,” states: “Sweden has developed advanced Waste-to-Energy technology that maximizes energy recovery while minimizing environmental impact.” She emphasizes: “Modern Swedish Waste-to-Energy plants operate under some of the world’s strictest environmental regulations.” Kristina Bäckstrand adds: “For us, energy recovery is not just about producing energy – it’s also about delivering an environmental service in such a clean, safe and socially responsible way as possible.”
Full Residue Utilization and Successful Waste Imports
Through the "Journey to Zero" program, Mälarenergi is taking action to reduce environmental impact in a lot of ways. Sustainability Manager Kristina Bäckstrand notes: “Mälarenergi is striving to reduce the environmental impact of waste incineration by developing methods to recycle ash.” The aim: “To convert the ash into a resource, such as building materials, or extracting salt from the ash. We are also evaluating investments in CO2 management a long with several another initiatives.”
A success story: Sweden imports 1.4 to 1.6 million tonnes of waste annually for energy recovery. Anna-Carin Gripwall from Avfall Sverige explains: “Importing waste for energy recovery benefits both Sweden and the exporting countries in several ways. Note that the Swedish plants are offering an environmental service that they get paid for – they do not pay for the waste.” Kristina Bäckstrand adds: “By taking care of residual waste that would otherwise end up in landfills in other countries, we reduce the environmental and climate impact of waste.” Anna-Carin Gripwall concludes: “Waste-to-Energy will continue to play a crucial role in sustainable waste management and the circular economy.”
[3] The average household in Europe consumes approximately 15 MWh of heat per year. 18 TWh of heat / 15 MWh = 1.2 million households
