Waste sorting practices under scrutiny at recycling centers in northern Denmark

Recent assessments have revealed a significant issue with waste sorting practices at recycling centers in northern Denmark. A study conducted at the Sundsholmen facility in Nørresundby found that approximately 80% of the waste placed in the “residual waste after sorting” containers was not properly segregated.

Visitors to these centers are faced with the challenge of sorting items into an overwhelming 52 categories. One such visitor, Carsten Pedersen, expressed frustration, suggesting that more sorting could be efficiently managed at the recycling sites instead of solely relying on the public.

Another visitor, Nils Peter Uhre, acknowledged his struggles in understanding certain waste categories, especially the limits on what can be classified as residual waste. He noted the crowd dynamics and limited staff presence as contributing factors to the improper sorting.

At Nordværk, it’s common to see individuals depositing bags of waste into residual containers after visiting other bins, often without realizing that much of it could be sorted into the correct categories. Sofie Roug Norup, a responsible professional at Nordværk, emphasized the unfortunate loss of potentially reusable materials.

In response, Nordværk aims to reevaluate the placement of sorting bins at recycling centers and enhance public education on proper waste disposal. A previous survey indicated that around 60% of waste in residual containers was also incorrectly sorted, highlighting an ongoing need for improvement in recycling practices.