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Does Sweden import garbage to burn for energy?

How much waste Sweden imports for energy recovery, why, and what the energy is used for.

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Short answer

Yes, Swedish energy recovery plants took in sorted waste from other European countries in 2024, and nearly half of it was municipal waste, according to Avfall Sverige. The volume was 2.5 million tonnes, of which 1.2 million tonnes was municipal waste. The energy recovered from waste is used mostly for heating.

Waste and recycling services in Stockholm Illustration of a water bottle, a luggage locker, a toilet sign and a clock

Why

  1. According to Avfall Sverige, Swedish energy recovery plants treated 2.5 million tonnes of sorted waste from other European countries in 2024, of which 1.2 million tonnes was municipal waste.
  2. According to Avfall Sverige, the energy recovery capacity in Sweden is greater than the domestic availability of combustible waste.
  3. According to Naturvårdsverket, Sweden imports notifiable waste mainly from the United Kingdom, Norway and Italy.

Details

In 2024 Sweden recovered 20 TWh of energy from waste, of which 17.6 TWh was used for heating and 2.4 TWh for electricity. Energy recovery of Swedish household waste fell by 3 percent that year to 2.47 million tonnes, or 234 kg per person. Naturvårdsverket says imports of notifiable waste have increased in recent years. For recycling at home see waste and recycling services in Stockholm, and for waste habits in everyday life see how Swedes reduce waste during the holidays.

Tip

For newer figures, check Avfall Sverige's yearly report Swedish Waste Management, since the numbers here are for 2024.

What may differ

The figures are for 2024 and cover Sweden as a whole. Naturvårdsverket's import statistics cover notifiable waste in general, not only waste sent to energy recovery.

Common misconception

Sweden pays other countries to take their waste.

What actually happens

According to Avfall Sverige, the country that wants to export waste to Swedish plants has to pay for it.

People also ask

  • Does Sweden import waste?
  • How does Sweden generate energy from waste?
  • What does Sweden do with its garbage?

Sources

Information checked on 28 October 2026.

Waste and recycling services in Stockholm

  • When is the queue shortest at Arlanda?

    Swedavia does not name a quietest time, but it says Arlanda generally has more traffic in the morning and that longer waits can also occur at other times.

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  • How does recycling work in Sweden?

    Swedish households sort food waste, packaging of paper, plastic, metal and glass, and residual waste, and municipalities must offer collection from the property by 1 January 2027.

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  • What is open on New Year's Day in Stockholm?

    Visit Stockholm's New Year guide says many of Stockholm's most popular museums and tourist attractions are open on New Year's Day, while Systembolaget stores are closed on 1 January 2027.

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  • Can you drink tap water in Gothenburg?

    Yes, you can drink the tap water in Gothenburg, which comes from the Göta älv river and is treated at the Alelyckan and Lackarebäck plants.

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