Waste management for businesses

Textile Waste from Retail

Municipal Waste:

Textile waste from retail stores is considered municipal waste and must be handled according to the municipality’s regulations.

Branded Workwear and Logos:

The store is responsible for removing logos and other branding from staff or work clothing before handing it over to the municipality. Clothing that cannot be reused by others must not be submitted without first being de-branded.

Exemptions for Independent Handling:

If the store wishes to manage its textile waste independently or use a provider other than the municipality, it must apply for an exemption from the supervisory authority.

Sorting Requirements in Stores:

Textile waste generated in-store, such as damaged returns, must be sorted separately. It may not be disposed of as residual waste. Only textiles that are impossible to reuse or even recycle as material may be classified as residual waste.

The Store’s Action Steps

1. Repair First
   Offer repair of damaged returns before delivering a replacement product.
2. Find New Uses
   Fix, refurbish, or donate workwear and products to customers, other businesses, or organizations.
3. Creative Reuse
   Example: turn worn-out workwear into reusable shopping bags instead of discarding them as waste.

Shops and retail

• Food waste, including unsellable food, is considered municipal waste.
• Collection may only be carried out by the municipality or an authorised contractor.
• Unsold products returned to the supplier are not considered waste.
• All food waste, including liquid fats and oils, must be delivered for biogas production.
• Boden’s biogas plant is approved by the Swedish Board of Agriculture to receive ABP Category 3 waste.

Animal By-Products (ABP Category 3)

• Such as products containing meat, eggs or dairy, have specific requirements:
• Transport must be carried out by vehicles registered with the Swedish Board of Agriculture.
• Vehicles and containers must be cleaned and disinfected after use.
• Each transport must be accompanied by a commercial document for traceability.
• If ABP is mixed with other waste, the entire load is classified as ABP.

Separate collection of food waste and packaging

Since 1 January 2024, Swedish law requires that:

• Food waste must be sorted and collected separately.
• Packaging must be separated from its contents before recycling (except for hazardous waste and pharmaceuticals).
• Food waste may not be incinerated or used as animal feed.

In Boden, all food waste and fats are recycled into biogas. The municipality has authorised Stena Recycling AB and Rangsells to collect waste oils and fats.

Contact

Stena Recycling AB +46 10 445 67 10

Rangsells + 46 70 927 20 65.

Exemptions from packaging separation

If your business cannot separate packaging from its contents, you may apply for an exemption from the Environmental and Building Committee. Exemptions can be granted if separation is not technically possible or if disadvantages outweigh the benefits.

In Boden, packaged food waste can be accepted at the biogas plant, but an exemption is always required. Unnecessary transport and group packaging must be removed before delivery.

Restaurants and cafés

Special requirements apply to restaurants and cafés:

• Food waste, waste fats and edible oils are municipal waste and may only be collected by the municipality or an authorised contractor.
• Serving outlets must offer reusable cups and containers.
• Guests must be able to sort packaging waste on site.
• Packaging and food waste must be separated and collected separately.

Producer responsibility for businesses

Companies are responsible for ensuring that products and packaging they place on the market are collected and recycled. Producer responsibility applies to:

• Packaging
• Plastic products (such as single-use plastics, wet wipes, filters, balloons, fishing gear)
• Electrical equipment
• Batteries
• Tyres
• Cars
• Pharmaceuticals (regulated by the Swedish Medical Products Agency)
• Radioactive products and orphan sources (regulated by the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority)

Producer responsibility means that companies must design products that are resource-efficient, recyclable and free from hazardous substances.

Tyres

Companies that sell, import or manufacture tyres in Sweden are covered by producer responsibility. They must join or establish an approved producer responsibility organisation for tyre collection and recycling. Used tyres are not accepted at recycling centres.

Packaging waste from businesses

• Businesses may not leave packaging waste at public recycling stations, which are for households only.
• Small volumes may be taken to the recycling centre.
• Larger volumes must be delivered to a packaging reception facility or collected by a contractor.
• In Boden, the reception facility is operated by Miljö och Teknik i Kangos AB.
• Producer responsibility for business packaging is handled by Näringslivets Producentansvar (NPA).

Boden’s packaging reception facility is operated by Miljö och Teknik in Kangos AB and can be contacted at nicklas.heikki@miljoteknikab.se or by phone at +46 70 550 28 25.

No waste in drains

Waste, oils or fats must never be poured into the sewer system. It causes operational disruptions, high costs and makes recycling impossible.

Application for exemption