Hazardous waste increasing faster than the economy (GDP)

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A total of 1.48 million tonnes of hazardous waste was sent for approved treatment in 2016 – an increase of around 84 per cent compared to 2003. In contrast, the gross domestic product (GDP) and population have only increased by 23 and 15 per cent respectively in the same period.

Thus, the general trend is that hazardous waste sent to approved treatment is relatively high compared to the growth in the economy and population in general, according to updated figures from Hazardous waste.

Figure 1. Trends in hazardous waste sent to approved treatment, gross domestic product (GDP) and population

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Hazardous waste 1.00 1.11 1.20 1.37 1.31 1.36 1.27 1.44 1.51 1.49 1.54 1.67 1.75 1.84
GDP (market value, fixed prices) 1.00 1.04 1.07 1.09 1.13 1.13 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.16 1.17 1.20 1.22 1.23
Population 1.00 1.01 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.09 1.10 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15

In a shorter perspective – from 2015 to 2016 – hazardous waste has increased by 5 per cent.

35 per cent to recovery

Around 35 per cent of the approved waste treatment was recovered, i.e. either material recycled (17 per cent) or energy recovered (18 per cent). The remaining 65 per cent was disposed of.

Figure 2

Hazardous waste treated at approved facilities by method of treatment and totalt amount sent for treatment 2003-2016. 1 000 tonnes¹ ²

Hazardous waste exports are included in the 1.48 million tonnes sent to approved treatment, but imported amounts are not. Thus, the figures on approved treatment comprise only hazardous waste generated in Norway.

Unknown treatment on its way down

Hazardous waste contains both health and environmentally hazardous substances. Thus, it is important to ensure that as much as possible of the hazardous waste is subject to proper treatment in order to avoid harming people’s health and the environment.

In addition to the 1.48 million tonnes sent for approved treatment, estimates are also made of the amount of hazardous waste sent for unknown treatment. This amount has been estimated at around 19 000 tonnes in 2016. Consequently, out of the estimated total amount generated, 98 per cent is believed to be sent for approved treatment, while the remaining 2 per cent is sent for unknown treatment and considered beyond ‘governmental control’.

Export of hazardous waste decreased 24 per cent

Export of hazardous waste showed a steady increase up until 2014, but this was followed by decreases in 2015 and 2016. In 2016, the export amounted to around 250 000 tonnes – a decrease of 24 per cent. Simultaneously, Norway imported circa 305 000 tonnes of hazardous waste from abroad; up 19 per cent compared to the year before.

Figure 3. Import and export of hazardous waste in 2003-2016

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Export 77 81 61 71 66 123 154 174 184 292 365 421 327 249
Import 256 183 205 165 85 237 272 377 390 303 288 173 257 306

Imports are dominated by waste containing heavy metals destined for landfill in Norway, and also some waste oil for incineration. Exports, on the other side, are mainly made up of various types of oil-containing hazardous waste and heavy metal-containing waste.

Import and export of hazardous waste require approval from the authorities in order to ensure proper treatment in the receiving country.

Heavy metal and oil-containing waste dominate

In 2016, heavy metal-containing waste was the dominant category of hazardous waste, with around 540 000 tonnes sent to approved treatment. The next biggest group was oil-containing waste, constituting around 490 000 tonnes.

Figure 4. Hazardous waste sent to approved treatment 1999-2016, by material¹

Other hazardous waste Corrosive waste Waste containing heavy metals, polluted matter Waste containing oil
1999 56 217 154 116
2000 52 259 169 131
2001 55 230 163 148
2002 105 129 196 171
2003 113 196 356 140
2004 73 230 396 199
2005 75 226 424 245
2006 116 230 491 268
2007 66 214 484 292
2008 78 229 459 331
2009 89 161 384 389
2010 102 208 404 450
2011 97 250 424 444
2012 106 199 361 538
2013 110 280 380 467
2014 104 304 468 467
2015 139 286 447 536
2016 207 248 536 492

Oil-containing waste mostly encompasses waste from oil drilling activities on the Norwegian shelf, while heavy metal-containing waste consists of metal hydroxyl sludge, slag, dust and ashes from the manufacturing industry, as well as inorganic salts (including other solid materials), used sand from grit blasting and CCA-impregnated wood.

620 000 tonnes from manufacturing

Manufacturing industries sent 620 000 tonnes of hazardous waste for approved treatment in 2016, including treatment in their own facilities. This makes up around 42 per cent of all hazardous waste in Norway for that year. Another main contributor – with almost 380 000 tonnes – is the mining and quarrying industry, which includes oil extraction activities.

Figur 5. Hazardous waste sent to approved facilities 1999-2016, by economic activity

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Unspecified 25 16 7 4 37 74 138 216 104 92 3 2 4 6 58 71 172 0
Households 3 2 3 4 8 11 19 19 20 27 28 30 30 38 36 41 51 63
Wastewater and waste management operations 12 12 16 14 51 57 53 55 71 65 81 76 69 74 78 82 74 175
Service industries 46 60 67 59 73 100 112 88 88 94 100 95 94 93 95 119 114 127
Construction 3 3 5 4 8 7 9 11 16 12 15 13 32 21 20 30 35 74
Energy and water supply 3 3 8 17 21 22 31 33 34 39 40 32 34 27 39 35 31 43
Manufacturing 368 427 404 381 524 510 477 539 573 635 580 616 596 482 539 619 568 618
Mining and quarrying 81 87 85 118 83 115 130 143 149 131 174 298 354 461 371 344 360 381
Fishing and aquaculture 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Agriculture 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0

It has been estimated that households accounted for around 63 000 tonnes of hazardous waste sent for approved treatment in 2016 (based on declarations of hazardous waste). On average, this constitutes around 12 kg per person. Impregnated wood, paint residues and waste oil constitute the main Components.

Increased hazardous waste from Svalbard

The amount of hazardous waste from Svalbard commonly varies from year to year. In recent years, between 100 and 300 tonnes of hazardous waste have been sent annually for approved treatment. In 2016, the amount originating from Svalbard was 140 tonnes, an increase of 20 per cent compared to the year before. Oil-containing waste constituted 43 per cent of all hazardous waste from Svalbard.

Hazardous waste produced in Longyearbyen, Svea and New-Ålesund is transported to the Norwegian mainland for treatment there.

 

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