In Sweden, we’re relatively good at managing our waste. Compared to other countries, we’re generally much better at, for example, incinerating our trash and using the energy for heating. At Skövdebostäder, the waste hierarchy is a clear guiding principle for our operations. We strive to be as high up on the hierarchy as possible—that is, to generate as little waste as possible. Any waste that is generated should be incorporated into a circular system. Here are some tips on what you, as an individual, can do to move up the hierarchy and what we at Skövdebostäder are doing to reduce our waste.
The Five Steps of the Waste Management Ladder
- Landfill
Landfill is the lowest step on the waste hierarchy, which we try to avoid as much as possible. But sometimes there are no alternatives. The amount of waste we send to landfills has decreased over the years. - Energy Recovery
Sort more to reduce residual waste—that is, the waste we throw away and that is then incinerated. This applies to everyone, whether you’re a business or an individual. - Recycle
Keep sorting your waste and put food scraps in the food waste bin! By working together, we can reduce general waste and thereby help lower emissions from waste incineration. - Reuse
Working even more actively to promote reuse will be a crucial part of achieving our ambitious goal regarding sustainable resource use in our sustainability strategy. Today, we are able to reuse interior design elements and office furniture in collaboration with the City of Skövde and the Sajkla furniture library. We’re also exploring reuse in new construction and renovation projects. As an individual, you can explore opportunities through sharing services for cars, tools, and other items. Or why not shop secondhand? - Minimize
The top step of the waste hierarchy is about minimizing the amount of waste as much as possible. Among other things, this means we should always ask ourselves whether, for example, a purchase is necessary. This is especially relevant during this time of year with sales and Christmas shopping. If you must buy something, still consider whether buying secondhand might be an option.