Faroese waste incineration plant reaches capacity as refuse volumes surge

The municipal waste incineration plant in Tórshavn operated at 91% capacity last year and cannot handle further increases in refuse, plant manager John Erik Hansen told Faroese public broadcaster KVF.

The facility at Hjalla processed 23,649 tonnes of waste in 2025—a 14% rise over 2024 figures. Of that total, 75% was converted to energy, 22% sent for recycling, and 3% landfilled.

While the volume of incoming waste grows, fewer trucks are delivering loads to the plant, Hansen noted. The share of vehicle imports for scrap has also declined unexpectedly despite steady growth in recent years.