Interventions for successful recycling of nutrients and energy from food waste - How can Swedish municipalities overcome barriers for a sustainable food waste management system?

Abstract: One of the interim targets in the Swedish national Good Built Environment objective states that biological treatment of source separated food waste should be a priority. The goal of biologically treating 35 percent of all municipal food waste in 2010 was not achieved, and a proposed target for 2015 raises the bar even further (40 percent). The way the proposed milestone target is phrased excludes composting as a treatment option by stating that nutrients and energy from food waste should be utilised, a requirement satisfied by anaerobic digestion (biogas production). This study assesses barriers experienced by municipalities and other waste actors in terms of implementing food waste collection systems. By interviewing a rather large sample of municipalities, waste companies and waste/biogas experts, and by organising the findings by help of an analytical framework, suggestions for policy interventions have been made. The study concludes that the national government must announce a clear vision for biogas production by including a measurable target, along with other policies like continued tax exemptions on biogas (used as vehicle fuel) and investment grants to support the production and demand for biogas. Successful biogas production paves the way for increased food waste collection. A tax on incineration of food waste should be introduced to make anaerobic digestion more attractive. Municipalities should collaborate more across borders as well as with other actors for knowledge sharing and to help raise investment funding. Finally, a mixture of policy instruments such as including food waste collection in the municipal waste disposal plan (administrative instrument), using environmentally differentiated waste charges as financial incentives (economic instrument) and assessing information activities (informative instrument) comprehensively forms the base of a successful policy intervention on the local level.