Page 40 - U4SSC Factsheet Ålesund, Norway, June 2020

Waste

Category KPI Result Performance to Benchmark SDG

Solid Waste: Landfill 4.10 %

Solid Waste: Burnt 0.00 %

Solid Waste: Incinerated 59.53 %

Solid Waste: Open Dump 0.00 %

Solid Waste: Recycled 36.37 %

Solid Waste: Other 0.00 %

All cities are recommended to prioritize, over all other forms of disposal, solid waste recycling in a
regulated facility or solid waste incineration that leads to energy production. It is recommended that
Ålesund develops its recycling capability and culture further, which should be a focus of its future
sustainability strategy. Such a strategic focus will be important in light of globally increasing recycling
costs that have resulted due to traditional processors such as China no longer accepting used plastic
and paper.
34
Optimizing waste recycling: As part of this recommendation, other steps that cities or regions such
as Ålesund can take to increase their recycling rates include the following best practices: 35

• Enhance (for non-recyclers) and reinforce (for recyclers) public communication and outreach in
order to increase overall public participation in recycling. This includes: awareness campaigns,
advertising efforts, citizen incentive programmes, and partnerships with local community and civic
group leaders and business bureaux.
• Evaluate the recycling markets and pricing levels for materials by researching reprocessors and
materials recovery facilities, and by communicating with neighbouring regions or communities to
leverage their lessons learned.
• Evaluate haulier contract(s) for the following: level and breadth of services being offered by
the haulier; the haulier’s collection techniques, equipment techniques, capacity, and residue
management; reflection of current market value of the materials being hauled, as well as any
supplies on offer by the haulier; adaptability for times of greater volume, varying mix of recyclables
and regional growth; community feedback and complaint mechanisms; and incentives for the

34 U4SSC Factsheet | Ålesund, Norway | June 2020