Environmentally sound disposal of Ozone Depleting Substances is increasingly recognised as an important issue in terms of both the protection of the ozone layer and the effect on climate change. However, there is only a limited overview in the Nordic countries of product groups containing Ozone Depleting Substances, regulation of the substances, available treatment technologies, and waste infrastructure etc. This report provides an overview of the waste treatment and regulation of Ozone Depleting Substances in the Nordic countries. The report identifies gaps, proposes solutions and provides recommendations for relevant Nordic efforts within the area.

This report has a focus on waste prevention through redistribution of food to low-income people via charity organisations. Food redistribution can go via national food banks and via direct redistribution, often on a local level. Food banks redistributed about 1,5 mill meals in 2013, and local charity organisations probably 2–3 times more. The regulatory framework for food redistribution is described and discussed. The demand of and potential for redistribution is probably much higher than at present, and the reports points out strategies and measures for how food banks can contribute to secure and further develop. The report is part of the Nordic Prime Ministers’ overall green growth initiative: “The Nordic Region – leading in green growth” – read more in the web magazine “Green Growth the Nordic Way.”

Environmentally sound disposal of Ozone Depleting Substances is increasingly recognized as an important issue in terms of both the protection of the ozone layer and the effect on climate change. However, there is only a limited overview in the Nordic countries of product groups containing Ozone Depleting Substances, regulation of the substances, available treatment technologies, and waste infrastructure etc. This report provides an overview of the waste treatment and regulation of Ozone Depleting Substances in the Nordic countries. The report identifies gaps, proposes solutions and provides recommendations for relevant Nordic efforts within the area. The report has been prepared by PlanMiljø ApS (Denmark) for the Nordic Ozone Group. The report has been financed by the Nordic Council of Ministers, through the Nordic Chemical Group and the Nordic Waste Group.

The aim of the project was to map PVC waste streams in Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland. The available estimates are made occasionally, mostly within the frames of different projects and are not based on any formalized official reporting system or other rigorous accounting scheme. Overall, a large part of PVC waste ends up in mixed waste fractions and is eventually treated in waste-to-energy plants. Landfilling of PVC waste is banned in two countries, but some exceptions exist. Norway is the only country that treats some PVC waste as hazardous waste. The current waste treatment situation in the four Nordic countries is driven by several factors, such as diverse origins of PVC products, some specifics of the Nordic market, rather low focus on PVC waste in policy strategies or plans, technical issues regarding incineration of PVC waste, and the lack of domestic recycling.