Producer responsibility
Producer responsibility makes producers responsible for the collection and disposal of their discarded products. It is a policy instrument for achieving the national environmental objectives and for encouraging producers to develop resource-saving products, which are easier to recycle and free from environmentally hazardous substances.
Swedish law lays down producer responsibility obligations in five areas:
- packaging
- tyres
- newsprint
- vehicles (End of Life Vehicles, ELV)
- waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE)
A voluntary producer responsibility agreement has also been negotiated for office paper. The links below provide more information about these producer responsibilities.
Results of producer responsibility in 2008
The most recent statistical analysis was done in 2009 and refers to the results for 2008. It covers all products subject to producer responsibility obligations, that is, packaging, newsprint, vehicles/ELV, tyres, light bulbs and certain light fittings, and waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE).
Recycling rate of 60 percent for packaging
The overall recycling rate, including materials and energy, for all packaging in 2008 was approximately 80 percent.
The target from 1 January 2006 is a recycling rate (material) of 65 percent for packaging made of paper, paperboard, cardboard and corrugated cardboard. It is a target that producers are meeting easily: the recycling rate for this product group was 74 percent in 2008 (73 percent in 2007). The highest utilisation rate was achieved for corrugated cardboard.
The target for vehicles was met
A total of 75,000 tonnes of tyres was converted into scrap material during 2008. None were disposed of to landfill. This means that producers met the requirements of the ordinance.
In 2008 91 percent of the weight of scrapped vehicles was recycled in Sweden. This means that the producers met the target set at 85 percent.
More information:
Contact: Cecilia Mattsson
E-mail: cecilia.mattsson(a)naturvardsverket.se