Good practice:

Hazardous waste reception for safer processing and the potential for reuse, Vakin

Beneficiaries of the hazardous waste receptions are households in the municipalities of Umeå and Vindeln. Through the ability to leave many types of hazardous waste in one place, it is easy for customers to do the right thing. At the same time, the risk of toxic substances ending up in the environment or in the drainage systems decreases. The stakeholders within the hazardous waste reception are primarily Umeå municipality, Vakin and the subcontractor that processes the hazardous waste (currently Stena Recycling).

Customers submit their hazardous waste to a special desk in the hazardous waste reception. From there, the staff will examine what has been handed in. Examples of fractions include solvents, pesticides, fluorescent lamps paint and paint residues, glue, oil filters, waste oil, degreasing agents and electrical waste.

The reception building is explosion-rated and has very good ventilation, with enhanced ventilation to barrels containing, for example, waste oil. The hazardous waste is stored in cabinets, per category, until it's time for pick-up.

All staff working at recycling centres and hazardous waste receptions receive training in hazardous waste management. Protective equipment is used when working with hazardous waste including aprons, chemical-proof gloves and goggles. The room is equipped with an emergency shower and an eye shower. Some particularly hazardous substances, such as mercury, are wrapped in plastics.

The recycling centres and hazardous waste receptions are financed by the municipalities' waste tariff, according to the cost price principle. The biggest costs are for transport and post-treatment, operating costs for buildings and employee costs.

The hazardous waste reception handles annually ca. 380 tonnes of hazardous waste. The largest fractions are water-based paint (100 tonnes), car batteries (55 tonnes), paint, varnish and glue (50 tonnes), solvents (31 tonnes), oil-based waste (26 tonnes) and cleaning agents (8 tonnes). Recycling centres and hazardous waste reception have on several occasions given placements to people in rehabilitation work training, and unaccompanied refugees and has in several cases led to permanent employment.

A key challenge with hazardous waste receptions is the implementation of reuse. Many of the products which are left are suitable for reuse and this represents and underutilized reuse segment.

Vakin’s hazardous waste receptions provide the opportunity to see a safe and well-structured set up for the collection, handling and temporary storage of hazardous waste. There is also the possibility to see a comprehensive system with a well-functioning collaboration with an external contractor.