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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

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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)

Read more about bio waste (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")

Read more about bulky waste (Danish)

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.

Read more about cardboard waste (Danish)

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

Read more about electronic waste (Danish)

Garden waste (Haveaffald)

Examples of garden waste:

  • Plants 
  • Fallen fruits 
  • Branches from pruning

Read more about garden waste (Danish)

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.

Read more about glass waste and locate a glass bin near you (Danish)

Hazardous waste (Farligt affald)

Examples of hazardous waste:

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

Read more about hazardous waste (Danish)

Read more about how to dispose of batteries (Danish)

Read more about how to dispose medicinal waste as a citizen (Danish)

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

Read more about residual waste (Danish)

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.

Contact

Område for Affald og Ressourcer

Njalsgade 13

2300 København S

Phone opening hours

Monday

09:00 - 16:00

Tuesday

09:00 - 16:00

Wednesday

09:00 - 16:00

Thursday

09:00 - 16:00

Friday

09:00 - 16:00