In 2008, 95.6 million tonnes of non-hazardous waste was generated in Sweden. Mineral waste accounts for 62 million tonnes, of which 59 million tonnes comes from the mining industry and 2.2 tonnes from the construction sector. Households gave rise to 4 million tonnes of non-hazardous waste in 2008.
Significantly less waste was recycled and incinerated in 2008 than in previous years. The primary reason for this is that more material than previously has been classified as by-products. This has thus not counted as waste and is therefore not included in the waste statistics.
The data on which the statistics are based come principally from the operators themselves and from sector organisations. They have therefore been responsible for what is to be classified as by-products and what is to be classified as waste.
Reporting every second year
The statistics are compiled every two years and are based on waste generated in Sweden two years prior to the time of reporting. The next time the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency will present those statistics will be in 2012.
The main waste streams in Sweden in 2008.
Official Statistics of Sweden, Statistics Sweden