affaldet

Affaldet is the Danish word for waste or refuse. In Danish usage it refers to materials produced by households, businesses or institutions that are no longer considered valuable in their current form and are destined for collection, treatment and disposal. The term covers a broad range of materials, from organic kitchen waste to packaging, electronics and industrial residues.

Common categories include husholdningsaffald (household waste), erhvervsaffald (commercial waste), farligt affald (hazardous waste), organisk affald (organic waste), plastaffald (plastic waste), metal og glas, and elektronikaffald (electronic waste). Waste streams are often managed separately to facilitate recycling, composting and safe handling of hazardous substances.

Waste management strategies focus on reducing environmental impact through prevention, reuse, recycling and energy recovery. Danish systems typically involve source separation at the point of disposal, local or regional recycling centers, and facilities for composting of organic waste or incineration with energy recovery. Landfilling is used less than in the past, as policies encourage diversion of materials from landfill and the recovery of resources.

Policy context includes national environmental legislation and EU waste directives that shape the waste hierarchy, recycling targets and producer responsibility. Public programs and incentives in Denmark support sorting, recycling and the safe treatment of hazardous materials, reinforcing a transition toward a circular economy. The concept of affaldet thus encompasses both everyday household waste and more specialized industrial streams, all subject to ongoing efforts to minimize environmental impact and promote sustainable resource use.