Sorting

In Ljungby and Alvesta, more than 27,000 households now sort their waste into colour-coded bags, which are processed at a modern optical sorting facility. Food waste is converted into biogas and biofertiliser, while the other fractions are recycled for a more sustainable society.

In Aalborg, ~224,000 residents sort their waste into coloured bags, which are processed at Denmark’s first optical sorting facility. The solution makes things easier for households and more cost-effective for the municipality, while also reducing environmental impact.

The Limburg Optimo Sorting Facility was launched in 2022 and services 32 municipalities, enabling smarter sorting for more than 300 000 households. The facility sorts 5 different fractions: food waste, garden waste, textile waste, residual waste and plastic/metal packaging. The facility is built to be flexible and has the option to add 2 more fractions in the future.

The main reason for choosing optical sorting was that the system could be introduced so easily. Different coloured bags are disposed of in the same bins as before, and the same waste collection vehicles are used. Currently, six different fractions are being tested for residents.

Eskilstuna was early with household waste recycling. With the higher demands of The National Goals the municipality introduced optical sorting. Within only a few months the target of 50% sorted waste was accomplished.

The plant is sorting five fractions and it is combined with a pneumatic waste collection system.

Sorting Oslo is a waste collection project in Norway’s capital, using Envac’s pneumatic system to improve recycling efficiency. It supports Oslo’s environmental goals by enabling automated waste sorting. The system reduces carbon emissions and enhances urban sustainability.