Collection Systems in Sweden 🇸🇪
About
Sweden uses a bring-site and kerbside collection system with separate streams for plastic packaging, metal packaging, paper/cardboard packaging, and glass. Sweden commonly separates clear vs coloured glass. A deposit return scheme (Pant) operates for beverage containers. Sweden has a national requirement for separate bio-waste collection.
Collection Streams
Plastic Packaging Recycling (Plastförpackningar) - Packaging ONLY
What goes in:
- All plastic packaging (rigid + flexible): bags, film, pouches, tubes, bottles, tubs, trays (incl. meat/fish trays), EPS/styrofoam packaging, etc.
What does NOT go in:
- Not plastic items that are not packaging (toys, toothbrushes, CD cases/'storage boxes', etc.); not electronics in plastic; not packaging contaminated with paint/solvents/glues (hazardous)
Notes:
- At bring sites, empty your carrying bag so items are loose in the container
- Deposit (pant) plastic bottles go to return machines
- If the municipality has a separate stream at the recycling centre for 'non-packaging plastic', use that; otherwise it becomes bulky/residual depending on size
Metal Packaging Recycling (Metallförpackningar) - Packaging ONLY
What goes in:
- All metal packaging, even small pieces: cans, lids/caps, foil, tubes, empty aerosol cans, dry/scraped-out metal paint cans, etc.
What does NOT go in:
- Not metal objects that are not packaging (pots/pans, cutlery, buckets, candle holders, etc.); not metal packaging with paint/solvent residues; not e-waste; not deposit cans
Notes:
- Aerosols should be 'puff-empty' (fully emptied) for safety
- Deposit (pant) cans go to return machines
- Non-packaging metal typically goes to the recycling centre as scrap/bulky
Paper Packaging & Printed Paper
What goes in:
- Printed paper (Tidningar & returpapper): newspapers, magazines, catalogues, flyers, brochures, office paper, writing/drawing paper, pocket books (if not reused)
- Paper packaging recycling (Pappersförpackningar) — PACKAGING ONLY: cartons/boxes and paper/cardboard packaging: cereal & pasta boxes, milk/juice cartons, paper bags, corrugated shipping boxes, wrapping/gift paper used as packaging, etc.
What does NOT go in:
- Printed paper: not envelopes (glue issue); not bound/hardcover books; not beverage cartons/food boxes (those are paper packaging)
- Paper packaging: not newspapers/magazines/office paper (go to printed paper/returpapper where available); not envelopes; not bound books
Notes:
- Remove plastic wrapping and sort wrapping as plastic packaging
- Staples/spirals usually do not need removal
- Collection access varies by municipality (bin at property, bring site, or recycling centre area)
- If possible flatten to save space
- Caps/lids: EU 'tethered cap' beverage cartons—if the cap is hard to remove, it may stay attached; if easy to remove, sort cap by its material (often plastic)
Glass Packaging - Clear (Ofärgat) & Coloured (Färgat)
What goes in:
- Clear (Ofärgat) — PACKAGING ONLY: clear glass bottles and jars (food/drink/cosmetic containers) that are packaging
- Coloured (Färgat) — PACKAGING ONLY: coloured glass bottles and jars that are packaging
What does NOT go in:
- Clear glass: not coloured glass packaging; not drinking glasses, porcelain/ceramics, other non-packaging glass; not light bulbs/tubes; not deposit glass bottles
- Coloured glass: not clear glass packaging; not non-packaging glass/ceramics/porcelain; not light bulbs/tubes
Notes:
- Sweden commonly separates clear vs coloured glass
- Remove caps/lids and sort them by material
- Deposit glass bottles go back via deposit/return (where applicable)
- Same principles apply to both clear and coloured glass: keep packaging glass separate from other glass types
Food Waste / Bio-waste (Matavfall)
What goes in:
- Typical: fruit & veg scraps, leftovers (cooked/raw), meat/fish scraps, coffee grounds, tea bags, filters, small amounts of uncoloured kitchen paper (varies by municipality)
What does NOT go in:
- No plastic packaging or other 'foreign materials'; no regular plastic bags; commonly no cat litter/diapers; other 'bio' items may vary locally
Notes:
- Use the municipality's dedicated bag (often a brown paper bag; some areas use coloured bags for optical sorting)
- Rules can vary depending on local treatment—follow your municipality's instructions
- Sweden has a national requirement for separate collection of bio-waste
Residual Waste (Restavfall)
What goes in:
- Non-recyclable household waste left after sorting: e.g., diapers, plasters, cotton buds, envelopes, broken plastic toys without batteries, etc.
What does NOT go in:
- No packaging (paper/plastic/metal/glass); no food waste; no printed paper; no batteries/electronics; no hazardous waste; no textiles that must be separately collected
Notes:
- This fraction typically goes to energy recovery (incineration)
- What counts as 'residual' is essentially 'everything that has no separate collection route'
- Some municipalities may add extra local streams (e.g., 'hard plastic')—follow local signage if present
Deposit Return Scheme (Pant)
What goes in:
- Plastic bottles and aluminium cans with a Swedish deposit mark (pantmärke)
What does NOT go in:
- Packaging without deposit mark; other materials (e.g., glass jars) that belong in packaging recycling
Notes:
- Returned via deposit return machines, typically in grocery stores (and sometimes at recycling centres)
What Gets Collected
Accepted Items
- • Packaging materials (varies by stream)
- • Empty and clean containers
- • Material-specific items
Not Accepted
- • Non-packaging items
- • Contaminated materials
- • Hazardous containers with contents
Regional Variations
Collection systems in Sweden may vary by municipality or region. Local sorting capabilities, collection infrastructure, and acceptance criteria can differ significantly even within the same country.
Important Notes
Sweden commonly separates clear vs coloured glass—check your municipality's guidance
Sweden has a national requirement for separate bio-waste collection
The deposit return scheme (Pant) is separate from municipal recycling—return eligible containers for a refund
Collection methods vary by municipality—some use bring sites, others use kerbside collection
The packaging-only rule is critical for plastic and metal streams
Sources
Collection system information is based on national and regional guidelines. For the most current and location-specific information, consult local waste management authorities.