How does waste sorting work in Oslo?
Bags, bins and where each type of waste goes in Oslo.
Short answer
In Oslo you put food waste in green bags, plastic packaging in purple bags and residual waste in ordinary bags, and all three go in the same bin. The green and purple bags are free in most grocery shops. Paper and cardboard have their own container, while glass and metal go to collection points.
Why
- Oslo kommune says only plastic used as packaging belongs in the purple bag, and that food waste is everything left over from cooking and meals.
- After collection the bags go to the sorting plants at Haraldrud and Klemetsrud, where the green and purple bags are separated by colour and sent for material recycling.
- According to Oslo kommune, there are more than a thousand collection points for glass and metal around the city.
Details
Tie every bag with a double knot. Electronics go to a recycling station or back to a shop that sells the same type of goods, even if you bought them elsewhere. Hazardous waste goes to a recycling station or an environmental waste station, and textiles to a textile collection point or a recycling station.
Tip
If you see guides that mention blue bags for plastic, follow Oslo kommune's current instructions, which name purple bags (lilla poser). When unsure about an item, check the sorting guide at sortere.no.
What may differ
Some waste is not collected at home: bulky items and garden waste must be taken to a recycling station or a garden waste point.
Common misconception
Since all the bags go in the same bin, sorting makes no difference.
What actually happens
At Oslo's sorting plants the green and purple bags are separated by colour, and the food waste and plastic go on to material recycling.
People also ask
- How does recycling work in Oslo?
- What are the green and blue bags for in Oslo?
Sources
- Oslo kommune: food waste, plastic packaging and residual wasteChecked at:
- Oslo kommune: recycling in OsloChecked at:
- Oslo kommune: how to sort waste in OsloChecked at:
- Sortere: national sorting guideChecked at:
This answer is for reference only. Rules can change, so check Oslo kommune's sorting pages.
How does waste sorting and pant work in Norway?Related questions
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Where can you get a rug or carpet cleaned in Oslo?
In Oslo you can have a rug cleaned at home by Oslo Møbel og Tepperens, from NOK 990, or take it to a Vinderen Rens dry cleaner.
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