Waste

Gothenburg, Sweden

Waste to energy cuts 200,000t CO2 annually in Gothenburg

What is it?

Gothenburg has an integrated waste system that collects, sorts and burns Gothenburg’s 345,000 tons of rubbish annually. The incinerated waste creates energy, which is used for heating and electricity. Waste is only removed by contractors if it has been separated for recycling, meaning 19% of total waste and 33% of household waste is recycled.

How does it work?

Various companies compete for waste collection and treatment contracts in Gothenburg and the surrounding region. All companies strive to minimise waste and maximise recycling, reuse and recovery in the waste handling process.

One company, Renova, is owned by 11 municipalities and is responsible for about 80% of waste management activity in the city of Gothenburg. In 2006 the company handled 890,000 tonnes of waste. Material recovery of 105,000 tonnes was achieved and 18,000 tonnes of soil and fertilizer was produced. Only 8% of waste was sent to landfill.

In 2006, 438,010 tonnes of waste was incinerated at a waste-to-energy facility with a total power output of 190 MW. In total, 1,418 GWh of energy was produced from incineration – 1,212 GWh for heating and 206 GWh for electricity.

Together with waste heat recovered from industrial processes, the heat and electricity generated from incinerated waste forms the base load for the city’s district heating system. Renova provides 27% of the 3970 GWh required for district heating – waste heat recovery from industrial sources provide 30% (principally from the Shell and PREEM oil refineries); ground source heat pumps 10%; biofuels 16%; natural gas 16%; and oil, just 1%. Fossil fuels are only used in winter, when the Swedish climate is at its most extreme. In summer months, incineration and waste heat recovery covers the city’s district heating needs.

Results

• Benchmarked against other European countries, the system compares very favorably, generating 3.3 MWh per ton of waste for heating (27% of the city) and electricity.
• 33% of household waste and 19% of total waste recycled.
• 8% of waste to landfill.
• Emissions reduced by over 200,000 tCO2 annually.
• 25% of the city’s CO2 emissions from energy consumption have been cut.
• Equivalent of burning 130,000 tonnes of oil per year avoided.

Next steps

Key areas for future waste management in Gothenburg include separation of organic waste and production of biogas; increased recycling and reuse; and introduction of cleaner trucks into the collection fleet – in spring 2008, Renova and Volvo launched the world’s first full-hybrid waste collection truck.