Now Sweden will annually take about 800 thousand tons of garbage from its neighbors. Program processing waste into electricity and energy for heating in Sweden has become so large in scale that it is sent only 4% of garbage to landfills (while the European average of about 38%). Other or processed, or as has been said, is sent to incinerators. On special waste incinerator plants waste are incinerated and thus water is warmed that heats houses and office buildings (20% of central heating in Sweden). In addition, some received energy used to generate electricity, which powers about a quarter of a million homes.
Sweden has long been the leader in this area among European states. Some time ago, officials from the Organization for waste management (Avfall Sverige) realized that the country produces enough garbage for their own energy needs. To solve the problem, experts organized import of waste from other countries. Now Sweden will take from the neighbors every year about 800 thousand tons of garbage. Most of it will supply Norway. Inciniration of garbage in this country is more expensive than to ship it to Sweden and thus pay extra for recycling. However, in this joyous for any environmentalist picture there are not all rosy colors. Thus, incineration lead to the emission of dioxins that pose a threat to the environment.
In addition, the ash contains many heavy metals. This by-product of converting waste to energy should be sent to landfill too so it is exported back to Norway. Catarina Ostlund (Catarina Östlund), Senior Advisor Environmental of Protection Agency (Naturvårdsverket), believes that over time, leading European countries will lack their own garbage for recycling. Then it is necessary to adjust the import garbage from Italy, Bulgaria, Romania or the Baltic states, which are known for their giant landfills and lack of waste treatment plants.
Despite the situation, Katharina believes that Sweden need to reduce the amount of waste produced. “Today’s decision is good only in the short term. We need a new approach to reusing and recycling “- said Ostlund.
