Waste treatment in waste treatment plants, 2007

In 2007, around 6.2 million tonnes of waste entered Norwegian waste treatment plants (including hazardous waste). Around 50 per cent was treated at the receiving plants, with the remainder being sent to other treatment plants.

The waste accounts show that 10.7 million tonnes of waste were generated in Norway in 2007. The difference between waste generated and waste treated at treatment plants may be explained as a result of extensive treatment by the industries themselves and the direct export of waste.

Landfills and landscaping

In the period 2003-2005, the annual amount of waste deposited was around 1.4 million tonnes. In 2006, however, deposited amounts rose to 1.9 million tonnes, before soaring to 2.2 million tonnes in 2007. Industrial waste accounted for approximately 82 per cent of the waste deposited in 2007. Mopping-up operations of slightly contaminated soils and masses resulted in the deposition of 759 000 tonnes in 2007. This equates to around 40 per cent of all industrial waste deposited.

Landscaping landfills required 662 000 tonnes of various masses (including some waste fractions) in 2007, which is an increase of 120 per cent since 2003.

More incineration

In total, 922 000 tonnes were incinerated in Norwegian waste treatment plants. This is 9 per cent more than in 2006. Waste incinerated at own facilities or delivered directly to an incinerator outside the waste system is excluded from these calculations. The average energy recovery rate at incineration facilities was 77 per cent in 2007; an increase of 2 percentage points from 2006.

Composting more popular

In 2007, around 410 000 tonnes of organic waste were sent to composting facilities. This is 28 per cent more than in 2006.

Increase in export from treatment plants

Waste treatment plants exported 434 000 tonnes in 2007, which is 40 per cent more than in 2006. The waste was exported for incineration (185 000 tonnes) and for materials recovery (249 000 tonnes). Waste exported outside the waste system is excluded from these calculations. This kind of export seems to be on the increase.

Waste in transfer

Considerable amounts of waste enter more than one treatment plant. Some waste sorted at treatment plants is deposited in landfills or sent for incineration. Residues from incineration and sifting are also deposited. Out of 6.2 million tonnes of waste that entered treatment plants in 2007, around 1.1 million tonnes (or nearly 20 per cent) were sent to materials recovery.

Ten landfills closed since 2003

In 2007, there were 88 landfills. This means that 10 have closed down since 2003. A total of 19 incineration plants and 154 waste sorting plants were in operation, and 78 waste treatment plants had recycling stations with public access.

For more information, please visit StatBank Norway :

Please read our articles on:

Waste accounts for Norway

Household waste

Building and construction waste

Hazardous waste

Tables:

• Table 1 Waste incineration. 2007. 1 000 tonnes
• Table 2 Landscaping landfills and landfill. 2007. 1 000 tonnes
• Table 3 Composting and biogas production. 2007. 1 000 tonnes
• Table 4 Handling of waste exported from waste treatment plants. 2007. 1 000 tonnes
• Table 5 Number of plants by type of waste treatment. 1992-2007