Waste from manufacturing industries, 2005

Manufacturing waste equals 36 per cent of the national total (hazardous waste not included). More than 90 per cent of the waste in manufacturing was waste from production processes.

Decline in waste in wood industries

The wood and wood product industries have reduced waste generation by 50 per cent from 1996 to 2005. In the same period, income from production increased by 16 per cent in fixed prices. This may indicate a shift towards less waste-generating production processes or a more effective on-site recycling of production waste into products. In 1996, the wood industries topped the list of waste generators, but nine years later these industries contributed to only 10 per cent of the total waste in manufacturing and were beaten by three other industries in terms of waste generation.

In the food processing industries, we have seen an opposite trend. In 2005, these industries generated 743 000 tonnes of waste, which equals a 32 per cent increase since 1996. In comparison, the production rose by only 1 per cent in the same period. The food processing industries now have the highest level of waste generation among the manufacturing industries. Around 80 per cent of the waste was wetorganic waste and organic sludge.

The metal industries accounted for 23 per cent of the manufacturing waste. From 1996 to 2005 there was an increase in waste generation by nearly 180 000 tonnes, or around 40 per cent. The production of metal almost equalled the increase in waste generation, and hence the amount of waste generated per amount of produced metal was nearly unchanged.

The materials in the waste from manufacturing are strongly related to the industry that generates the waste. The amount of wood waste decreased by 240 000 tonnes, or 27 per cent, from 1993 to 2005 due to lower waste amounts from the wood industries. Wood is still the most abundant material in the manufacturing waste, accounting for 21 per cent of the total. Cinders/dust/ashes and wetorganic waste comprise 19 and 18 per cent of the total respectively.

Manufacturing industries have positive effect on recovery rate

According to Statistics Norway’s calculations, about 74 per cent of the ordinary waste from the manufacturing industries was recovered in 2005. This is somewhat higher than the overall recovery rate of 69 per cent in Norway in the same year. Waste handled in unknown ways (370 000 tonnes) and waste sent for sorting (25 000 tonnes) was excluded. The recovery rate is close to the national target for 2010, set by the Norwegian government. The recovery figures contain uncertainty, see separate box below.

Some types of waste are easier to make use of than others, and this is reflected by the differences in recovery rate between the different material types. Seven material types had recovery rates exceeding 95 per cent: wet organic waste, paper/pulp/cardboard, organic sludge, electrical/electronic waste, metals, textiles and wood. At the same time, four material types had a recovery rate less than 30 per cent: cinders/dust/ashes, mixed waste, other mineral waste (gypsum, mineral wool, etc.) and inorganic sludge. These four waste types were mainly sent to landfills or other kind of disposal.

Recovery includes recycling, energy recovery, composting and biogas production. In addition, export is included in recovery, as practically all ordinary waste being exported is recovered.

The figures for 2004 and 2005 are based on a simplified data basis, and the figures for 2003 and 2004 have been revised since the previous release. For more information, see text boxes below.

Tables:

• Table 1 Waste in the manufacturing industries, by industry (1993, 1996, 1999, 2003 - 2005). 1 000 tonnes. Change in waste amount and production income, in total (1993 to 2005) and by industry (1996 to 2005). Per cent.
• Table 2 Waste in the manufacturing industries. By material. 1993, 1996, 1999, 2003 - 2005. 1 000 tonnes
• Table 3 Waste in the manufacturing industries. By treatment. 1993, 1996, 1999, 2003 - 2005. 1 000 tonnes