Recycling in Copenhagen

Information about garbage disposal at your residence and ways to recycle household waste.

Depending on where you live, waste bins and recycling bins can normally be found in your courtyard or basement.

If you are unable to find the right bin for your recyclable waste, you can contact Nemaffaldservice or look for the nearest recycling station or local collection point.

Check out the map for waste bins near you (Danish)

Sorting and recycling household waste

The municipality of Copenhagen provides waste bins and collects waste from your property.

Visit the homepage affald.kk.dk for more information on sorting waste (Danish)

Information about your residential garbage service

If you need more information on garbage disposal at your residence (find collection dates, order optional or extra bins, report a problem etc.), type in your address to start using the service.

Go to Nem Affaldsservice (Danish)

Recycling stations and local collection points

Residents of Copenhagen can recycle their waste at a recycling station or a collection point.

A collection point is smaller, only accepts certain types of recyclable waste and is accessible by foot only. Both types are staffed and most have a “swap stand” where you can donate or collect items which are still usable.

Find a recycling station or a collection point near you (Danish)

How to sort your waste in Copenhagen

Expand all

Bio waste (Madaffald)

Examples of organic waste that should go into your green organic bin:

Food waste, raw or cooked
Rice, pasta
Meat, fish, bones
Bread and cakes
Fruit and vegetables
Sauce and oil
Spreads e.g. cream cheese
Eggs and eggshells
Nuts and nut shells
Coffee grounds and coffee filters
Tea leaves and tea filters
Used paper towels
Cut flowers

You can order a new green bin for organic waste or biodegradable bags (bioposer) for free if you live in the municipality of Copenhagen (Danish)

Bulky waste (Storskrald)

Examples of bulky waste:

Furniture, shelves and carpets
Window glass and mirrors (must be properly wrapped so that they do not cause injury)
PVC
Construction waste made of wood, glass, plastic or metal
Bicycles (must be marked with a note with the text "fjernes af renovatøren")

Cardboard (Pap)

Examples of recyclable cardboard:

Paper towel rolls
Toilet paper rolls
Packaging boxes of toothpaste, washing power, dishwasher tablets, energy saving lamps, batteries, etc
Cereal boxes, egg trays, packaging boxes for toys
Shoe boxes
Postcards

Used pizza boxes should be disposed as residual waste

Juice cartons, milk cartons (tetrapak) and alike should be disposed as Plastic, food and beverage cartons waste.

Electronic waste (Elektronisk)

Examples of recyclable electronics:

All items with a cord and/or are powered by batteries or solar cells
Small kitchen appliances such as stick blenders and microwave ovens
Cell phones
Chargers
Electronic toys
Television
Appliances such as freezers, stoves and washing machines

Garden waste (Haveaffald)

Examples of garden waste:

Plants
Fallen fruits
Branches from pruning

Glass (Glas)

Examples of recyclable glass:

All types of glass, jars and bottles (coloured and clear glass)
Bottles with or without lids
Drinking glasses

If you don’t have access to a municipal glass bin at your residence, you can dispose of recyclable glass at a recycling station or by using one of our 550 public glass containers.

Hazardous waste (Farligt affald)

Examples of hazardous waste:

Paints, solvents and chemicals
Energy saving lamps and LED lights
Batteries

Metal

Examples of recyclable metal:

Coffee and tea boxes
Food cans
Metal candlesticks
Magazine holders
Curtain clips
Storage boxes
Cutlery made of metal
Cookware
Hammer
Screwdrivers, pliers, nails, screws, metal hooks and door handles

Since metal is melted at a very high temperature, it is ok to recycle metal items with some wood or plastic attached to them.

Paper (Papir)

Examples of recyclable paper:

Newspapers
Magazines
Advertisements
Envelopes
Wrapping paper
Books
Office paper

Paper and cardboard should be clearly separated for recycling.

Plastic, food and beverage cartons (Plast, mad- og drikkekartoner)

Plastic waste should be free from food residue and liquid.

Examples of recyclable plastic:

Containers and canisters for dishwashing liquid/detergents
Containers for storing good
Plastic trays and bags from meat, fish or vegetables
Drink bottles and plastic bottles without a deposit mark
Cookware, toolboxes and cutlery made of plastic
Food and beverage cartons eg. juice and milk cartons

Residual waste (Restaffald)

Residual waste is incinerated and used to produce district heating and electricity.

Examples of residual waste:

Pizza boxes
Diapers
Sanitary waste
Packaging fillers

Deposit and return system

In Denmark, you pay a deposit ('pant' in Danish) each time you buy drinks in cans or bottles with a deposit mark. You can get your deposit back by returning empty cans and bottles using reversed vending machines.

Learn more about the refund system for bottles and cans in Denmark