Afford strewn beside bins forces waste collectors to work every day

Waste collectors in Aalborg are now required to operate seven days a week because residents repeatedly dump large items and general refuse beside underground bins, blocking access.

Nordværk, the waste management company serving the city, says the problem has grown so severe that crews must clear streets daily—including weekends—to remove sofas, mattresses and other bulky waste that cannot fit inside the containers.

“When the material is left outside, we cannot empty the bins,” said Jens Boye, division and collection manager at Nordværk. “We have to bring in cranes and trucks just to clear the area before we can do our job.”

The company reports a sharp increase in improperly discarded items, much of it household furniture that residents leave beside the bins as the “easy option.”

“This forces us to run daily and weekend shifts, which we did not need before,” Boye said. “It puts a heavy strain on our budget.”

Servicemedarbejder Sine Christensen, whose role is to maintain the bins, now spends much of her time clearing debris instead of performing her core duties.

“It’s frustrating,” Christensen said. “I should be able to focus on the job I was hired to do.”

Nordværk urges residents to dispose of large items at the nearest recycling center or arrange a special collection if transport is not possible.

“Anything that doesn’t belong in the bins should go to the recycling yard,” Boye said. “If you can’t get there yourself, call us to schedule a pickup.”