4. How Sweden has Recycling Figured Out

4. How Sweden has Recycling Figured Out

Author: Jenn Galler February 28, 2025 Duration: 9:29

Sweden has figured out recycling. This shows, as they are the highest recyclers in the world. 

To talk about recycling we also have to mention all streams of waste - not just the products that are eligible to be recycled. In fact,only 1% of Sweden's trash goes into a landfill. Just to reiterate, 99% of Sweden’s waste is recycled! 52% is burned and converted into energy and then the remaining 47% is recycled and given another life.

Recycling is simply a way of life in Sweden. It is ingrained in the culture and taught to kids at a very young age. Literature says, culture is a huge factor that drives sustainable development - it starts with the mindset of the people. So Sweden is a progressive leader to know this kind of change starts with youth. 

Sweden has strict laws and regulations that not only aid in recycling and recyclability of products, but make it so that certain products aren’t manufactured, packaged, or imported in the first place to end up in the wastestream. They also highly encourage citizens to firstly reduce and reuse before recycling. 

Recycling is just an initial step to work towards climate goals and sustainability. It’s not the end all be all for the climate, but such a foundational place to start. Changing our everyday habits and behavior is where this change will happen and I believe Sweden is leading the way. 

4 Main Ways Sweden Accomplishes 1% of Waste in Landfills: 

Education to Citizens

Social Systems in Place

Extended Producer Responsibility Law

Waste-To-Energy Model  


Sources:

https://unece.org/sustainable-energy/about-methane-management-0

https://www.svenskplastatervinning.se/en/about-plastic-recycling/

https://www.worldcleanupday.org/country/sweden#:~:text=Hela%20Sverige%20plockar%20skr%C3%A4p%202024,sustainable%20and%20litter%20free%20world!&text=On%20this%20day%2C%20Keep%20Sweden,all%20the%20litter%20we%20see.



Hosted by Jenn Galler, In Our Backyard Podcast is the voice of the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League, bringing urgent local stories to the forefront. This isn't about abstract global debates; it's a grounded conversation focused on the very real industrial pressures facing specific towns and neighborhoods. Each episode examines a particular threat, from active coal plants and fracking operations to the routing of new pipelines, unpacking the complex realities behind the headlines. You'll hear directly from the residents and organizers who are living these fights, sharing their personal struggles and strategies for safeguarding both community health and the local environment. The discussions are detailed and thoughtful, prioritizing the experiences of those on the ground. Tuning into this podcast means connecting with the persistent, often overlooked work of environmental justice, understanding that the most critical battles for planetary protection frequently begin just outside our own doors.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

In Our Backyard Podcast
Podcast Episodes
1. Gaslighting: Opposition to New Natural Gas Projects in NC [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:18
Lisa Sorg is the North Carolina reporter for InsideClimate News. A journalist for 30 years, Sorg covers energy, climate, environment and agriculture, as well as the social justice impacts of pollution and corporate malfe…
70. United Nations Work on Climate Change [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:45
Younju Lee is from South Korea and based in Paris, France. She is a Masters student for Environmental Policy as well as an intern with the Stakeholder Engagement team at United Nations Climate Change. The United Nations…
69. Environmental and Natural Resource Security [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:30
Dr. Elizabeth Hessami is a professor at Johns Hopkins University and a licensed attorney. She has served as a visiting attorney for the Environmental Law Institute for nearly a decade, researching post-conflict natural r…
68. The Aftermath of Hurricane Helene [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:00
Court Lewis is the BREDL chapter President of Unicoi Clear in Unicoi County, TN and currently living in Upstate, South Carolina. In late September of this year, category 4 Hurricane Helene caused widespread destruction a…
66. Championing the Southeast and Seeing its Full Potential [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:03
Abigail Franks who is the Membership and Policy Manager and Alexander Easdale who is the Executive Director at Southeast Climate and Energy Network. The Southeast Climate and Energy Network has a mission to confront the…
64. Food Policy for Better Food Systems [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:36
Erica Hall is Executive Director and Board Chair at Florida Food Policy Council. Executive Committee Member of the Sierra Club, Florida Chapter. As well as a National Board of Director Member of the National Sierra Club.…