Copenhagen plant will recover recyclables from residual waste

A new sorting plant will recover recyclable materials from household waste in Copenhagen, Frederiksberg and Tårnby, even as residents are expected to keep sorting their rubbish at home, Danish broadcaster DR reports.

ARC, the waste company that operates Amager Bakke, is preparing the plant next to the waste-to-energy facility, which has a ski slope on its roof. It will sort plastic, metal, paper, cardboard, and food and drink cartons from residual waste before it is sent for incineration. The plant is the first of its kind in Denmark.

Copenhagen’s climate, environment and technical affairs mayor, Line Barfod, said the facility would act as an additional safeguard to recover materials that end up in residual waste. She said sorting at home remained important because waste that has not been mixed with other rubbish is of better quality and more likely to be recycled.

ARC is the only waste company in Denmark to have received a state exemption to build a plant that sorts residual waste. The new facility can process up to 120,000 tonnes a year. In 2027, it is expected to recover about 8,500 to 14,000 tonnes of recyclable materials. It cost 375 million kroner, covered through waste fees in the three municipalities.

Behaviour researcher and RUC lecturer Pelle Guldborg Hansen said the plant was unlikely to change the habits of people who already sort their waste or those who do not. But some residents might stop sorting certain items, such as unpleasant or dirty waste, if they believe the plant can handle it.

Hansen said municipalities would need to explain that the plant cannot sort waste as effectively as residents can at home. Barfod said she hoped to prevent people from relying on the facility instead of sorting their rubbish themselves.

The plant will be tested and adjusted in the coming period, with full operations expected to begin in spring 2027.