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Where do you throw away electronics, batteries and polystyrene in Norway?

Free take-back in shops, recycling stations and Oslo's polystyrene rule.

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Short answer

Hand in electronics and batteries at a shop that sells the same type of product or at a recycling station, where Oslo also takes larger amounts of polystyrene. Shops must take back electronics free even if you buy nothing, and the City of Oslo says a few handfuls of polystyrene can go in residual waste.

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Why

  1. The Norwegian Environment Agency (Miljødirektoratet) says shops that sell electrical products must take back such waste free from consumers, even if they buy nothing new.
  2. The City of Oslo says batteries must not go in residual or paper waste, because batteries thrown there cause fires in Norwegian waste plants and refuse trucks every week.
  3. Oslo says polystyrene does not belong in the purple bag, which is only for plastic that has been used as packaging.

Details

Shops with more than 400 m² of sales area for electrical products must accept all types of small electronics, and the municipality must receive household electrical waste free of charge. Oslo advises putting a piece of tape on each battery terminal before you hand it in. Electronics that still work can be sold or given away, for example on Finn or Tise.

Tip

Check your own municipality's sorting guide before you throw out polystyrene, since the rule above is Oslo's.

What may differ

The battery and polystyrene advice here comes from the City of Oslo, so outside Oslo check your own municipality's rules.

People also ask

  • Where can I recycle old batteries in Norway?

Sources

This answer is for reference only. Rules can change, so check your municipality before you throw anything away.

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