The Development of Systems for Property Close Collection of Recyclables : Experiences from Sweden and England

• This study presents a multiple case study of systems for collection of recyclables from domestic properties. A model for describing the development process is presented together with six examples from Sweden and one from the UK. Six Swedish systems that have been in operation since 1994, when the Ordinance on Producers' Responsibility was enforced, are presented. They are considered in the light of the driving forces behind their development: co-operation between municipality and producers, collection efficiency through vehicle development, quality of recyclables, Agenda 21 and environmental concerns, service to users and recycling as a marketable product, respectively. The Swedish systems are compared to a recently introduced collection program in Northamptonshire, UK. The results from an evaluation of the Swedish systems shows that what differentiates them is not technical details but how, where, by and for whom they were developed. The conclusion drawn is that a collection system should be adapted to local conditions, both in technical design and social factors. At present the lessons from Sweden are being used to design new recycling strategies in Northamptonshire, demonstrating the importance of international comparisons to develop 'best practice'.

Keyword

Waste collection; household waste; Producer´s responsibility; bring systems; property close collection

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)