Norway (NO)
Norway is a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy in Northern Europe — one of the three Scandinavian nations, occupying the western and northern portions of the Scandinavian Peninsula.
Recycling & Waste in Norway
Bin system, bottle deposits, special disposal, and common mistakes.
Norway has an excellent waste management and recycling system. The pant (bottle deposit) system is a world leader — over 92% of plastic bottles and aluminium cans are returned. Municipal recycling (kildesortering) is widespread, with colour-coded bags or bins for different waste streams. The system varies by municipality (kommune) — Oslo uses coloured plastic bags inside a single outdoor bin, while many other municipalities use separate coloured bins. Each municipality publishes sorting guidelines (sorteringsguide) on its website.
The Bin System
Food Waste
Green (bag) or green binMatavfall (grønn pose)
- ✓All food scraps (cooked and uncooked)
- ✓Coffee grounds and filters
- ✓Tea bags
- ✓Paper napkins and kitchen towels (lightly soiled)
- ✓Small amounts of cardboard soiled with food
- ✓Egg cartons (small pieces)
- ✗Plastic bags (even "compostable" ones unless marked specifically)
- ✗Large quantities of cardboard
- ✗Glass or metal
- ✗Meat and fish bones (check local rules — some accept, some do not)
Paper and Cardboard
Blue (bag or bin)Papir og papp (blå pose / blå boks)
- ✓Newspapers and magazines
- ✓Cardboard boxes (flattened)
- ✓Office paper
- ✓Envelopes (with or without windows)
- ✓Cardboard packaging
- ✓Paper bags
- ✗Heavily food-soiled paper/cardboard
- ✗Waxed cardboard (e.g., milk cartons — some municipalities have separate category)
- ✗Plasticised paper
- ✗Paper towels (goes in food waste)
Plastic Packaging
Transparent/clear (bag) or specific plastic binPlastemballasje (gjennomsiktig/transparent pose)
- ✓Plastic packaging and containers (cleaned)
- ✓Plastic bottles (not panteflasker — those go to the pant machine)
- ✓Plastic bags and film
- ✓Yoghurt containers
- ✓Butter packaging
- ✓Squeeze tubes
- ✗Pant bottles and cans (return to supermarket machines)
- ✗Plastic toys, furniture, or items without packaging purpose
- ✗Hard plastic items (goes in residual waste in most municipalities)
- ✗Heavily contaminated plastic
Residual Waste
Red (bag) or grey/black binRestavfall (rød pose / svart boks)
- ✓Anything not sorted in other categories
- ✓Hygiene products (nappies, cotton wool, plasters)
- ✓Broken crockery and small glass items
- ✓Hard plastic items
- ✓Vacuum cleaner bags
- ✓Cigarette butts
- ✗Food waste (green)
- ✗Paper/cardboard (blue)
- ✗Plastic packaging (transparent)
- ✗Hazardous waste (farlig avfall)
- ✗Electronic waste (el-avfall)
- ✗Pant bottles/cans
Glass and Metal Packaging
Varies by municipality — often white/clear container or drop-off pointGlass- og metallemballasje
- ✓Glass jars and bottles (cleaned, lids removed)
- ✓Metal cans (cleaned)
- ✓Tin foil (clean)
- ✓Metal lids and caps
- ✗Pant bottles (return to pant machine)
- ✗Window glass or mirrors (special disposal)
- ✗Drinking glasses and ceramics
- ✗Pyrex/heat-resistant glass
Pantsystemet (Bottle Deposit System) — Bottle Deposit System
Norway's pant (bottle deposit) system is one of the world's most successful circular economy initiatives. Over 92% of all panteflasker (deposit bottles) and pantebokser (deposit cans) are returned. The system covers plastic bottles up to 3 litres and aluminium cans with a pant (deposit) mark.
NOK 2.00 for bottles/cans up to 0.5 litres. NOK 3.00 for bottles between 0.5 litres and 3 litres. (Note: pantebeløp may be indexed — check Infinitum.no for current rates.)
Return to any pantautomat (reverse vending machine) at supermarkets and some petrol stations. The machine recognises the barcode and credits you. Receive a slip (panteseddel) to redeem at the till for cash or as a store voucher. Bottles must be intact with readable barcode. Some shops also accept hand-in of bottles at the customer service desk.
Special Disposal
Gjenbruksstasjon (recycling centre) — each municipality has free drop-off points. Some municipalities offer household collection days.
Includes paint, varnish, solvents, pesticides, batteries, fluorescent tubes, and used motor oil.
Gjenbruksstasjon or in-store take-back at electronics retailers. Elkjøp, Power, and Clas Ohlson accept old electronics for free.
Mobile phones, computers, TVs, white goods, batteries. Mandatory producer take-back system — retailers are obligated to accept old electronics.
Dedicated battery bins (batteriinnsamlingsbokser) at supermarkets, petrol stations, and recycling centres.
All types including AA, AAA, car batteries, rechargeable batteries. Do NOT put in residual waste.
Return to any apotek (pharmacy). No charge.
Unused or expired medications should always be returned to an apotek. Never flush medications down the toilet.
UFF, FRETEX (Salvation Army thrift stores), Røde Kors, or container collection points throughout cities.
Norway has an excellent textile donation culture — Fretex and UFF are major Norwegian charity shops. Clean and usable clothing only.
Gjenbruksstasjon (recycling/waste centre). Some municipalities offer annual bulk collection from kerbside.
Furniture, mattresses, large appliances. Many items in good condition can be donated or sold on finn.no.
Gjenbruksstasjon or private waste container hire. Contractors must use approved facilities.
Asbestos requires licensed specialist removal and disposal. Never mix with household waste.
Bulk Waste
Grovavfall (bulk waste) can be taken to your local gjenbruksstasjon (recycling centre) free of charge. Oslo has several gjenbruksstasjoner open Monday–Saturday. Check your municipality's website (e.g., ruter.oslo.kommune.no) for locations and accepted materials. Some municipalities offer a grovavfallstjeneste (bulk collection) service — contact your kommune.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- ! Putting pant bottles in the recycling bin instead of the pantautomat (you lose the deposit value)
- ! Not cleaning containers before recycling — heavily contaminated packaging goes in residual waste
- ! Putting batteries in residual waste — always use dedicated battery collection points
- ! Not sorting food waste — Norway's food waste goes to biogas production; failing to sort wastes this resource
- ! Putting medications in household waste or flushing them — always return to apotek
- ! Ignoring husordensregler (house rules) for waste placement — in borettslag, incorrect waste placement can result in complaints
Fines & Enforcement
Incorrect waste disposal can result in fines from the municipality. Illegal dumping (forsøpling) is a criminal offence under Forurensningsloven (Pollution Control Act). Fines for illegal dumping: NOK 5,000–50,000 or more depending on severity.
Practical Tips
- → Download the SortIt app or your municipality's sorting app (e.g., "Mitt avfall" by Avfall Norge) for instant sorting guidance.
- → Get the correct coloured bags from your kommune (kommunen provides these) — or buy them at supermarkets.
- → Identify your nearest gjenbruksstasjon (recycling centre) shortly after moving in — you will need it.
- → Participating in the pant system by returning all bottles and cans is both environmental and financial — builds up to meaningful amounts over a month.
- → Oslo gjenbruksstasjoner (recycling centres) are free to use for residents — bring ID showing Oslo address for full access.