Sweden Landfills only 4% of Waste Stream!
October 29, 2012 at 07:37PM In landfilling only 4% of it's solid waste stream, Sweden is a leader in the waste-to-energy approach. It is a key component of its environmental policy.
Approximately 50% is recycled and 46% is used in a waste to energy system that reduces GHGs, emits only incidental quantities of toxic material, saves the burning of oil for the equivalent of 680,000 cars per year.
It provides the heat for 810,000 homes and electricity for 250,000 homes.
On top of all that, it's a municipal money maker, and Sweden is seeking out garbage contracts with other European countries.
To be fair, it works within a strategic waste management hierarchy but it does not address the key to strategic sustainable waste management--design for reuse--requried for a truly regenerative and sustainable economy.
However, Sweden's approach is pointed in the right direction, it is a flexible platform, and it has a high ROI. So, it could be a best practices case to emulate, if not extended to next-generation, design for reuse practices of a truly sustainable economy and society.
HOW did they do it? HOW could your municipality do it?
Read the article and leap into the 21st century!
Reader Comments