Iceland (IS)

Iceland is a North Atlantic volcanic island nation of extraordinary natural beauty — home to geysers, glaciers, lava fields, midnight sun, the Northern Lights, and some of the world's most active volcanoes.

Capital: Reykjavik

Region: Europe

Language: Icelandic

Currency: ISK (kr)

Cost of living: Expensive (index 85)

Emergency: 112

Recycling & Waste in Iceland

Bin system, bottle deposits, special disposal, and common mistakes.

Iceland's waste management system is improving but lags behind Scandinavian standards in some areas. Recycling is taken seriously in urban areas, with separate collection for key waste streams. The deposit return system (skilagjald) for bottles and cans is well-established and highly effective, with near-total recovery rates. Reykjavik's waste management is handled by Sorpa (Samtök sveitarfélaga um sorpmeðhöndlun — sorpa.is). Outside Reykjavik, municipal waste services vary. The geothermal heating system means virtually no domestic fuel burning, which significantly reduces one type of waste stream. However, given Iceland's island geography, almost all consumer goods are imported, and packaging waste management requires particular attention.

The Bin System

General Waste

Blue or grey depending on municipality

Heimilisúrgangur (blár tunna)

Accepts

✓Non-recyclable mixed household waste
✓Food-soiled packaging that cannot be cleaned
✓Nappies and personal hygiene items
✓Broken ceramics and crockery (wrapped)
✓Miscellaneous non-recyclable items

Not accepted

✗Items with deposit (skilagjald) — bottles and cans must be returned for deposit
✗Recyclable paper, cardboard, glass, or plastic
✗Food waste (where separate collection is available)
✗Electronics, batteries, or hazardous waste
✗Garden waste

Paper and Cardboard

Yellow or white

Pappír og pappi (gul/hvít tunna)

Accepts

✓Newspapers and magazines
✓Office paper and envelopes (plastic windows OK)
✓Cardboard boxes (flattened)
✓Egg cartons
✓Cardboard packaging (clean, dry)
✓Paper bags

Not accepted

✗Food-soiled cardboard or paper
✗Waxed or plastic-coated cardboard (some fast food containers)
✗Tissues, paper towels, or toilet paper
✗Thermal paper (receipts)

Plastic and Food Cartons

Orange or plastic symbol

Plast og matvælabretti

Accepts

✓Clean plastic bottles and containers
✓Plastic packaging (bags, films — varies by municipality)
✓Tetra Pak and milk/juice cartons (rinsed)
✓Plastic trays (rinsed)
✓Hard plastic items

Not accepted

✗Deposit bottles and cans (must be returned to skilavél)
✗Plastic bags with food residue
✗Plastic toys or large plastic items (gámasvæði)
✗Styrofoam (separate disposal)

Glass

Green

Gler

Accepts

✓Glass bottles (non-deposit)
✓Glass jars and containers (rinsed)
✓Window glass (wrapped carefully)

Not accepted

✗Deposit bottles (return to skilavél)
✗Mirrors or car windscreens (gámasvæði)
✗Ceramics or porcelain (general waste)
✗Light bulbs (electronic waste collection)

Metal

Red or metal symbol

Málmar

Accepts

✓Metal cans (non-deposit)
✓Foil and foil trays (clean)
✓Metal lids and bottle caps
✓Small metal items

Not accepted

✗Deposit aluminium cans (return to skilavél)
✗Large metal items (gámasvæði)
✗Batteries (hazardous waste)

Food Waste

Brown (where available)

Lífrænn úrgangur (matarleifar)

Accepts

✓Food scraps and leftovers
✓Coffee grounds and filters
✓Tea bags
✓Fruit and vegetable peels
✓Eggshells
✓Small amounts of soiled paper towels

Not accepted

✗Large amounts of liquid
✗Meat and fish in large amounts (in some systems)
✗Non-organic materials

Skilagjald (deposit return system) — Bottle Deposit System

Iceland's deposit return system (skilagjald) covers plastic bottles, aluminium cans, and glass bottles. When you purchase a beverage in a qualified container, a deposit (skilagjald) is included in the price. You return the container to a reverse vending machine (skilavél) at any supermarket and receive the deposit back as a receipt that can be redeemed for cash or store credit.

Deposit Amounts

ISK 23 per container — a unified flat rate for all container types (plastic PET bottles, aluminium cans, and glass bottles) regardless of size. The deposit was standardised to a single amount. The system achieves near-100% return rates due to convenience and cultural acceptance.

How to Return

Insert bottles and cans into the skilavél (reverse vending machine) at any supermarket — Bónus, Krónan, Hagkaup, and all major chains have them. The machine reads the barcode and accepts valid deposits. You receive a printed receipt (seðill) at the end. Redeem at the checkout for cash or store credit. Clean bottles are not required but excessively dirty ones may be rejected.

Special Disposal

Electronics and electrical items (WEEE)

Gámasvæði (recycling centres) — Sorpa operates multiple collection points around Reykjavik and the capital area. Most electronics retailers also accept old items when you purchase a replacement.

Never put batteries or electronics in general waste — toxic materials. WEEE bags (gámar) at collection points accept all small electronics.

Batteries

Collection boxes (rafhlöðugámar) in most supermarkets, petrol stations, and at gámasvæði. Do not mix with general waste.

Single-use and rechargeable batteries both accepted.

Hazardous household waste (faraldur)

Gámasvæði (collection centres). Paint, solvents, pesticides, old medications — special hazardous waste collection.

Do not pour chemicals down drains. Old medications (lyf): return to pharmacy (lyfjabúð) — they accept old medications for safe disposal.

Bulky items and furniture

Gámasvæði — free drop-off for Reykjavik municipality residents with proof of address. Coordinate large collections through Sorpa.

Many items in good condition can be donated to Rauði krossinn (Red Cross) charity shops or sold/given away via Facebook Marketplace.

Clothing and textiles

Textile collection bins (fatnaðargámar) at car parks and service areas throughout Reykjavik. Rauði krossinn charity shops (clothes donations welcome).

Iceland has limited clothing recycling infrastructure — charity donation is preferred for usable items.

Garden waste

Gámasvæði garden waste areas. Some municipalities offer garden waste collection.

Garden waste composting is encouraged. Compost bins available from some municipalities.

Bulk Waste

Sorpa recycling centres (gámasvæði) across the capital area accept large items. Check sorpa.is for opening hours and accepted materials. Registered Reykjavik residents can use the service free of charge with ID and proof of address. Outside Reykjavik, individual municipalities operate their own collection centres.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

! Putting deposit bottles and cans in recycling bins instead of using the skilavél — you lose the deposit and create extra work for the recycling system
! Mixing batteries with general waste — this is hazardous and illegal
! Disposing of large electronics in general waste — bring to gámasvæði
! Putting old medications in general waste — return to pharmacy
! Not rinsing plastic and glass containers before recycling — food residue contaminates recycling batches

Fines & Enforcement

Illegal waste dumping (ólögleg urðun) carries significant fines and potential criminal charges. Dumping waste in the highland or natural areas is particularly serious — cultural and ecological sensitivity is very high. Report illegal dumping to Reykjavik municipality or local police.

Practical Tips

→ Download the Sorpa app or check sorpa.is for your local collection schedule and nearest recycling centre
→ Keep your skilavél receipts and redeem them at checkout — over a year of regular recycling, the deposits add up to a useful amount
→ Iceland's recycling system is improving rapidly — stay updated as collection options expand
→ The most impactful environmental action in Iceland is buying less single-use packaging — local markets and reusable containers are encouraged
→ Iceland's tap water is excellent — use a reusable bottle and avoid buying single-use plastic bottles