Närbild på en hand som lägger en plastförpackning i återvinningsbehållare

Statistics


Every year, we are getting better at recycling together. The interest in recycling has never been stronger, according to our latest statistics.

We have statistics that both show how good the Swedish residents are at sorting their packaging and leaving it to our collection service, and how much of it that gets recycled and can become new packaging and products.

Material collected

Recycling rate

Material quality

Recycling barometer

Collected material 2022

Collection statistics

  • Illustration av en vikttyngd

    50

    kg packaging per person

  • Illustration av återvinningsbehållare

    15

    percent increase in collection since 2018

  • Illustration av en vikttyngd

    530 000

    tonnes of newspapers and packaging

Material collected shows the amount of packaging collected from households via FTI’s recycling stations and curbside collection services.

Statistics for Sweden (national)

The figures refer to kg/person.

Our press release on the 2022 collection statistics


About the collection statistics

The collection statistics are based on reported amounts of packaging that Swedish households have left for recycling at one of FTI's approximately 5,000 recycling stations in the country, or from the approximately two million households with property collection, where the packaging is collected by FTI. The material we collect is taken care of and recycled by our owners. At the recycling facilities, the material is sorted so that as much as possible can be recycled into new packaging or products.

Recycling rate

Material recycling

  • 65%

    of all packaging is recycled to make new product (The Swedish government’s targets for 2029)

  • 65%

    of all packaging was recycled to make new products (our owners result 2022)

The recycling rate shows how much packaging has been recycled and used to make new products.
Under the Swedish government’s new targets, which are more ambitious than those set by the EU, at least 65 percent of all packaging placed on the market must be recycled to make new products. The new statistics for 2022 from FTI’s owners show that the overall recycling rate for glass, paper, plastic and metal packaging was 65 (64,6) percent. While the target for the overall recycling rate is within near reach, we have still not achieved the specific recycling targets for plastic and paper packaging. These targets can be achieved by increasing collection and recycling rates and boosting innovation.

Recycling rate per material


  • Piktogram för glasförpackningar

    86%

    Glass

  • Piktogram för papper

    68%

    Paper

  • Piktogram för plastförpackningar

    19%

    Plastic

  • Piktogram för metallförpackningar

    86%

    Metal (steel)

  • Piktogram för metallförpackningar

    64%

    Metal (aluminum)

More statistics for recycling rates and what the figures mean


On this page, we present recycling statistics from FTI’s owners (Svensk Plaståtervinning, Returkartong, Svensk Glasåtervinning and Metallkretsen) for the 2022 operational year.

Recycling rate 2022 (2021 in brackets)

Refers to the proportion of the amount of packaging that was put on the market and reported to FTI, that was recycled into new raw material.

GLASS PAPER PLASTIC METAL
(STEEL)
METAL
(ALUMINUM)
TOTAL
PACKAGING WASTE
National target for 2029, total – household and commercial packaging 90% 85% 50% 70% 50% 65%
Recycling rate –  household packaging* 86% (84%)* 68% (72%) 19% (18%) 86% (90%) 64% (72%) 65% (67%)
Recycling rate total –  household and commercial packaging* 86% (84%)* 78% (82%) 33% (32%) 83% (85%) 68% (67%) 70% (70%)

* For glass packaging, collection from households and businesses takes place in the same flow.

Material quality 2022


  • 1/5

    of the materials we collect have not been sorted correctly at source

Sampling carried out in 2022 showed that up to one fifth of FTI’s collected material had been sorted incorrectly at source. Some packaging had been placed in the wrong recycling bins, as well as waste that wasn’t packaging. The incorrectly sorted materials included toys, electronics, frying pans and gift-wrapping ribbon that should have been taken to staffed municipal recycling centers or placed in household waste.

By sampling, we obtain an overall view of the quality of the paper, plastic and metal packaging that FTI has collected. We are working to reduce the amount of incorrectly sorted packaging by:

  • Clear labels on packaging and recycling bins
  • The Sorting Guide – makes it easy to sort correctly
  • Information campaigns and material for consumers and companies

 

More about sampling


Material quality statistics, 2022 (2021 figures in parentheses)

Packaging Non-packaging Waste
Plastic packaging 73% (75,4%) 12% (12%) 15% (12,6%)
Paper packaging 84,4% (85,7%) 10% (9,7%) 5,6% (4,7%)
Metal packaging 64,6% (64,8%) 21,6% (22%) 13,8% (13,2%)

2023 Recycling Barometer

Annual survey

  • 91 %

    think it is important to recycle their packaging

  • 76 %

    recycle to protect the environment

  • 70%

    think it is easy to know how to sort their packaging

Every year, the Recycling Barometer is conducted to examine Sweden’s residents’ recycling habits and attitudes to recycling. The survey is conducted by Kantar Sifo on behalf of FTI. This year’s survey shows that nine out of ten think it is important to recycle their packaging.

Among the households that took part in the survey, 7 out of 10 think that it is easy or very easy to sort packaging. 6 out of 10 state that they know that it is an obligation to sort out packaging.

Household packaging only

Among the households that took part in the survey, 36% are not aware that you can only leave household packaging made of glass, paper, plastic or metal at the recycling stations. Many of those who sort incorrectly are unsure of what is and is not a package.

We are good but can be better

The recycling barometer shows that we are good at source sorting and recycling in Sweden, but we can get better. Even more packaging needs to be sorted out, especially paper and plastic. Sorting ones packaging at source is an easy way to make a difference. Each package counts and contributes to a more sustainable world.

More results from the Recycling Barometer


More figures

Find more statistics

You can also find national statistics on recycling targets for packaging and packaging waste on the EPA’s website.

Frequently asked questions