Denmark: Where waste is a resource

In some neighborhoods in various cities and towns in Kenya, it is common to see garbage trucks going around maybe once or twice a week collecting garbage and taking it to a dumping site.

Usually, most homes have one or maybe two garbage bins which are typically outside the house. The garbage is dumped in the bins at home waiting for the collection trucks to come around and take the household garbage away. Once empty we go back to filling up the garbage bins again.

Sorting garbage at home

In Denmark, residents sort their household garbage into eight different waste materials which include; food waste, plastic packaging, paper, cardboard and glass. From next year this waste will be sorted into 10 different types adding food and drink cartons as well as damaged textiles to the list.

 A Garbage bin in a Danish household – Photo courtesy Hillerod Utilities

You can imagine how much space one would need to have to keep the many garbage bins in the homes to be able to sort them into 10 separate types of waste. However, the bins that residents use are divided so that the waste can be easily separated at the household level. The garbage trucks that go around picking the waste are also specially built to collect the garbage and not mix up the different wastes.

A Garbage and Sanitation truck in use in Denmark - Photo courtesy Hillerod Utilities

The work starts at home

According to Abhilasha Dixit Mishra, Project manager at Hillerod Utilities, a waste management and recycling company in Denmark, for their work to be successful they need people in the homes to support them. “this work starts from home, it starts small.” At least 80% of the people are aware of what needs to be done to help recycle waste from their homes and they understand it, she says.” 53% of the household waste that was collected by Hillerod Utilities last year was recycled.

“We also use some of the waste to generate heat for people’s homes during winter as well as heat the water that they use, adds Abhilasha. For the waste that residents are unable to sort into the right waste type, there is a way to assist them. Residents carry their garbage to the Hillerod Utilities premises where there are clearly labelled garbage disposal points.

Waste disposal point at Hillerod Utilities – Photo Courtesy – Jamila Mohamed

“It is like a drive-in experience, you drive along and put the garbage in the right bin as you move through the various waste disposal bins.” explains Abhilasha. At the facility, residents have 48 different waste disposal points, each one well labeled with details on exactly which type of waste can be disposed in the huge waste bins.”

We even have a separate area where residents can safely dispose waste that can be hazardous, like batteries and chemicals.” Abhilasha tells us, and in case of any difficulty there is always someone to help you figure out exactly where to drop off your garbage" she says smiling.

Residents of Hillerod disposing garbage at the designated points - Photo Courtesy – Jamila Mohamed

The facility also has an interesting shop where residents of this municipality can bring household goods that they do not need anymore. “Our shop has everything from furniture, clothes, household utensils and even shoes…” says Abhilasha, ” we give out some of them for free and others are sold at affordable prices.” she adds... It is a responsible way for residents to dispose of household items that they no longer use …”

 Waste is a resource

Government legislation, policy and constant engagement with authorities is one of the reasons why they have been able to successfully implement the waste collection, management and recycling initiatives. Hillerod Utilities is also constantly reminding residents about the processes as well conducting regular awareness programmes for school children…” We are teaching them when young about the importance of proper garbage disposal.” explains Abhilasha, “we also send regular pamphlets and guidelines to residents.”

 Residents deposit garbage in the different bins – Photo Courtesy Jamila Mohamed 

“For us, waste is a resource, she says,” looking at the energy crisis, we need the waste as a source of energy, once the waste is sorted here and sent for incineration, it is used for heating homes during the cold seasons,” Waste is a resource, an important resource,” says Abhilasha.