One of the guiding principles of waste management in Denmark and the rest of Europe is the ”waste hierarchy” based on the following priorities:

1. Minimisation and prevention of waste arisings
2. Reuse and recycling of resources contained in waste
3. Recovery with maximum energy utilisation (power and heating)
4. Waste landfill

Vestforbrænding is working in many fields to minimise waste arisings and develop solutions causing the least possible environmental impacts.

Vestforbrænding is working through information campaigns and education to reduce waste arisings. But our main task is to ensure that as much waste as possible is recycled. Thanks to recycling we achieve the best utilisation of resources contained in waste.

When it is not expedient from an environmental and socio-economic point of view to recycle waste it is incinerated, provided that residues from the incineration process do not cause environmental problems.

Energy from waste incineration is used for CO2-neutral generation of power and heat, which is sold and distributed.

Waste suitable for incineration may not be landfilled in Denmark. But when waste cannot be recycled and is unsuitable for incineration we send it to landfill. Landfill is the least preferred option, since it does not utilise resources in waste. In addition, landfilled waste can cause contamination of soil and groundwater.

We are working continuously to improve our range of solutions and services, to find methods for more efficient utilisation of resources contained in waste, and to minimise impacts on the environment caused by the different treatment options.