London Wider Waste Strategy - London - Greater London Authority

Drivers for Sustainable Waste Management Practices
4.118. The following sections discuss drivers for sustainable waste management and aids to
best practice. The Copenhagen Waste Management System is a successful example of
achieving high recycling rates for C&I waste (see the information box below).
Copenhagen Waste Management System
In the early 1990s Copenhagen turned its waste management system around from a
landfill dominated disposal system to a position where recycling rates of over 50%
were being achieved with greatly reduced disposals to landfill. Denmark has a
national ban on combustible waste going to landfill, accepting that incineration with
energy recovery has a role to play in sustainable waste management. Denmark
adopted a National Waste Plan last year, which gives guidelines and objectives for all
the municipalities, and aims to reduce current levels of incineration by further
increasing recycling rates.
Commercial Waste Management
An important aspect of Danish waste regulation is that one single authority
(generally the municipality) has responsibility for both planning and implementation
of waste management, thus enabling an efficient system of treatment and
enforcement.
The first waste plan (1990) outlined a system for commercial waste, which specified
criteria for transport and treatment for each waste type, and introduced source
separation as a basic strategy. Waste operators and facilities that met the criteria
could then enter into a contract with the municipality and become a designated
facility in Copenhagen. The municipality has responsibility for all waste produced by
local businesses which are required to use the designated waste management
facilities. The system is based on the principle that the polluter pays: the waste
producer pays for the cost of collection and treatment directly to the contracted
collection company or treatment plant.
Waste producers, waste collectors and waste receiving enterprises must meet the
criteria of the waste plan, including reporting electronically to the municipality on
their activities, types and quantities of waste handled.
The change in commercial waste management was implemented without major
difficulties arising for the waste producers. Organisational rearrangements and
provision of extra storage space for waste containers was necessary. The extra costs
involved appeared to be covered by the savings on waste disposal achieved
(according to a survey in 1994 of the economic impact on 700 companies involved,
only 7% experienced cost increases.) As there is limited landfill capacity in Denmark
the disposal cost of using this route has historically been expensive. Landfill prices
in Denmark for 2002 were quoted in the UK Strategy Unit’s report 15 as
approximately £13-21/tonne, with a landfill tax of £28/tonne.
Success of the Copenhagen Waste Management System in reducing landfilling and
achieving high recycling rates, is attributed to:
• The municipal waste planning and regulation system.
15 Waste not, Want not. A strategy for tackling the waste problem in England. Strategy Unit, November 2002.
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