NORWAY: Household waste levels will almost double in next ten years

Household waste increased by 16% between 1992 and 1995, and Statistics Norway expects it to increase by 45% from 1995 to 2010. This is a much higher growth rate than is projected for industrial waste generation. The industrial sector’s waste will grow by 18% during the same period, according to projections.

Statistics Norway attributes increases in household waste to “economic growth and rising consumption” and highlights the fact that by 1997, Norway’s per capita domestic waste generation had almost doubled in 30 years.

In 1998, Norwegian households were producing on average 308kg of waste and projections for 2010 show households producing about 400kg.

Although recycling and recovery of waste has increased as well, Norway’s plans to achieve real reductions in waste generation (see related story) are being seen by environmental groups as wishful thinking.
Environmentalists believe improvements must be made to Norway’s national waste strategy before reductions will be possible.