Can cost you big fines

Incorrect sorting can give a fine

Although many Danes do their best to sort correctly, mistakes still occur, which can ultimately cost time, money and hassle.

Most households are today obliged to sort their waste into up to ten different fractions.

This includes food waste, plastic, metal, glass, cardboard and paper as well as more specific groups such as electronics, hazardous waste and food and drinking cartons.

It is the municipalities that supervise the waste sorting and they have different opportunities to enforce the rules.

If you repeatedly throw garbage in the wrong container.

For example, food waste in residual waste or plastic in the paper container, the municipality can first give you a warning.

If the error is repeated, it can lead to financial sanctions.

A typical first step is an additional fee, which can be DKK 200-500.

In serious or conscious cases, it can proceed to a police report and a fine of up to DKK 2,000, and up to DKK 5,000 in the case of hazardous waste.

Authority for fines and sanctions can be found in the Waste Ordinance (BEK No. 2152 of 09/11/2021), especially:

• § 61: Citizen’s duty to sort household waste according to the municipality’s instructions

• § 70 and § 72: Possibility of fine by violating the sorting rules

• § 73: The municipality’s right to refuse emptying of containers by incorrect sorting