Avfall Sør proposes less frequent waste collection to cut emissions, sparking controversy among residents
Waste management company, Avfall Sør, has proposed a new plan to collect household waste less frequently in an effort to reduce CO2 emissions and costs. The move has sparked controversy among some residents, who fear their bins will overflow.
At present, waste is collected weekly, but the proposed plan, currently under review, suggests a collection every four weeks. Knut Fosdahl, a resident of Kristiansand and father of two (with another child on the way), expresses his concern that the bins will fill up quickly, especially as his family is not particularly adept at waste sorting.
Arild Bjelland, CEO of Avfall Sør, argues that if the volume of waste remains as it is now, the costs will become prohibitively high and will impact the residents. Furthermore, Avfall Sør has to pay a CO2 tax, which is expected to increase significantly by 2030. Bjelland insists that unless residents improve their waste sorting habits, the costs will rise.
Other waste management companies share this mentality. Vesar in Tønsberg reduced waste collection last year based on similar reasoning. According to Communications Chief, Kaia Ross Lind, the move has been successful, with residents becoming more diligent in sorting their waste and very few overflowing bins reported.
Waste management company BIR in Bergen is also planning a pilot project to improve waste sorting. According to Tina Skuldal, their Communications Advisor, they want to test the same solution that Avfall Sør is proposing.
Avfall Sør currently recycles 52% of waste, with an aim to increase this to 55%, and then 60%. Bjelland argues that residents hold the key to achieving these targets, hence the need for measures that encourage waste sorting. Vesar in Tønsberg currently recycles 67% of waste and expects to increase this to 70% with the new collection arrangement.