Photo: From 1st of July 2009 biodegradable waste can no longer be legally disposed of on land fills in Norway. Photo: SFT

Waste rotting in Norwegian land fills contributes to about 2.5 per cent of the Norwegian green house gas emissions. Leaching of environmental toxins, smell, hazards related to contamination, vermin, littering, noise and occupation of land are other negative effects of land fills.

– Biologically degradable waste which can be used for energy production should not be placed on land fills. We are very pleased the ban has been adopted, says Sigurd Tremoen, Director for the Department of Chemicals and Local Environmental Management.

Cutting emissions by more than half

The ban is expected to reduce emissions of green house gases from landfills by 67 percent by 2040 compared to current emissions of methane gas. SFT also estimates that the ban along with improved environmental standards at the land fills will reduce the emissions of environmental toxins and nutrients from land fills by 35-40 percent. These are important environmental improvements both locally and nationally.

Improved resource exploitation

More than four million tons of degradable waste is generated in Norway every year. Much of this is already recycled or used for energy generation; however, more than 600 000 tons were still deposited on land fills in 2005. The ban will ensure that the waste instead is exploited as a resource for either material or energy purposes.

SFT expects about 75 percent of the waste currently disposed of at land fills will be recycled as energy, while 25 percent will be recycled as new materials as a result of the ban. Energy from waste will in the future be part of the replacement of fossil fuels.

Suggested in 2004

The proposal for a ban on biodegradable waste on land fills was first submitted in 2004 as a part of the SFT strategy on biodegradable waste. In its white paper number 34 (2006-2007) on Norwegian climate policy, the Norwegian government gave notice that it would introduce a ban on depositing biodegradable waste on land fills. During the last half of 2007, SFT carried out a hearing concerning the proposed ban. The hearing involved environmental organisations, industry, the waste industry and authorities in the process of working out the new legislation.

Most of the participants have been positive in regards to the intention of the ban, realising it will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and environmental toxins from land fills, as well as the possibility of an improved exploitation of valuable resources.

Major changes in a short time frame

The ban means that large amounts of waste must be treated in other ways in one year from now. SFT is aware that building the necessary treatment capacity may take time in certain parts of the country. To ensure good, future oriented solutions, temporary exemptions may be granted in certain cases in a transitional period.