New legal requirements in 2024 and 2025 meant that sorting of food waste and textiles for recycling increased sharply, according to annual statistics from Avfall Sverige.
Between 2024 and 2025, 5.3 percent more packaging was recycled. This is probably because many municipalities have made it possible to sort waste close to homes. Starting at the beginning of next year, everyone will have that opportunity.
"The collection close to the property makes it easier to do the right thing; it's a really effective method for reducing the number of garbage bags," says Jenny Westin, statistics expert at Avfall Sverige, in a press release.
However, Sweden did not reach the EU's target of a 55 percent material recycling rate by 2025. Just over 40 percent was recycled last year.
