Statistics Norway

Division for energy, environmental and transport statistics

Postboks 1400 Rasta

2225 Kongsvinger, Norway

Description of data sets delivered:

The datasets reported are mainly based on the Waste Accounts for Norway.

http://www.ssb.no/en/avfregno

Waste streams are quantified according to three different characteristics: material type, source of origin and treatment.

We have for this data-delivery tried to follow the description and deliver data on waste treated in Norway. As we primarilay compile data on the treatment of Norwagian waste (included waste treated abroad), we have tried to use import/export data to get the best numbers for this reporting. Data reported on treatment in previous years have been on treatment of Norwagian waste (in Norway and abroad). 

Some waste of unknown origin is divided on the other sectors and waste to unknown treatment is not included in the treatment table. Waste to known treatment, but treatment that do not fit into the described categories or we do not know exactly which treatment it received is placed in the category ""Disposal-other"

Information on number and capacity of recovery and disposal operations is received from The Norwegian Environment Agency

Derogations that apply to the data set(s):

The Waste Accounts do not cover the following:

• Clean masses of stones, gravels, soil and other materials, which readily may be brought back into the natural cycle of the ecosystems.
• Used products covered by recycling systems, for instance the bottle deposit scheme.
• Infectious, explosive and radioactive wastes.

Norway compile data using the Norwagian waste standard. Data are then translated into EWC-codes to be able to report on the WStat-R. 

All NACE sectors should be included, however data for sector L might be somewhat lacling or included in waste from the other service sectors. 

Waste data is compiled on amount and type as well as on treatement. Some waste of unknown origin is divided on the other sectors and waste to unknown treatment is not included in the treatment table. Waste to known treatment, but treatment that do not fit into the described categories or we do not know exactly which treatment it received is placed in the category ""Disposal-other"

Data is compiled in many different ways. When compiling data for waste from the service sector, the unit is the enterprise. When compiling data on household waste, the statistical unit is the household. 

Data sources in the Waste account include both data based on reported information from businesses, enterprises or households, and data from registers. In addition, standard factors from selected studies have also been employed. See also 2.5.

We have for this data-delivery tried to follow the description and deliver data on waste treated in Norway. As we primarilay compile data on the treatment of Norwagian waste (included waste treated abroad), we have tried to use import/export data to get the best numbers for this reporting. Data reported on treatment in previous years have been on treatment of Norwagian waste (in Norway and abroad). 

2020

For some of the data, we have used a base year , when we have a large survey (for instance for the waste from the manufactureing industry in 2015), and based on this data we make new numbers. However, this year is not common for all calculations. 

Relationship of the parties/sources to the areas of the Regulation on Waste Statistics:

The Waste Accounts makes use of an array of different statistics/data sources for calculating the waste generated, waste for recovery and disposal. The most important are listed below.

All available waste statistics and other statistics, coefficients, etc. that may derive to waste statistics are collected and compiled.

Table 1:      Institutions involved and distribution of tasks

Main data sources in the Waste Accounts:

Brief presentation of statistics and other sources involved:

General description of Data set 1: Waste generation by waste category (EWC-STAT) and economic activity (NACE)

Data sets 2 and 3: Waste treatment

Annual data collection.

One of the main intentions with waste accounts is to build upon already existing data sources, like register data and statistics.

However it is still beeing collected some data from the recovery industry, This is numbers for treatment of special material fractions and types (for instance plastic packaging, WEEE and more). This extra numbers is used in the calculations of treatment numbers for the different material types. We also hope in the future to be able to have separate surveys for the sectors where we now have old and somewhat lacking data, but where we now have not been able to collect data because we assume that the numbers are quite small. This is true for some of the materials from the sectors A, B, D and E.

In the data collection for the statistics on waste from the service industry, customer registers from several waste handlers are collected. These registers contain among other data treatment and waste amounts data. This treatment data is used together with other sources for the treatment to calculate treatment for all the material types.

The different waste statistics of Statistics Norway making part of the waste account use different methods of data collection.

Revision carried out in connection with waste accounts may be divided into two steps:

• Revision of the different basic statistics
• Revision in connection with the compilation of the account

1. Revision of the basic statistics: The possibility for revision of basic statistics varies depending on the data collection methods in use. It also depends on which institution being responsible for the data collection. The statistics on household waste, industrial waste, waste handling and hazardous waste treatment is revised mainly through the following techniques:

• Automatic controls in the electronic forms, for example numerical limits and logical controls.
• Comparison with previous reported figures for municipalities and enterprises.
• Comparison with country average and comparable municipalities and enterprises.
• Collection of missing/insufficient information.
• Direct contact with municipalities/enterprises regarding errors or cases of doubt, which cannot readily be corrected internally in Statistics Norway.

Several revision controls are carried out automatically by computer-based applications.

The micro data concerning the service industries are based on customer registers from waste collectors. Revision of these includes identifying the establishments and connecting them to the Business register, and calculating the amount of waste per employee for each establishment as a basis for identifying outliers. No corrections are made in the micro data, but some industries delivering other establishments’ waste (transport, real estate activities, etc.) are excluded from the survey.

External sources are checked for errors or shortcomings in the following way:

• Units and values are checked against previous reference years of the same data source.
• Register units are checked automatically and manually against the Business register in Statistics Norway.
• Reported values are checked against values normally to be expected.
• Reported values are compared to values of comparable units for example assessed by size of enterprises (number of employees or turnover).

Corrections are made in copies of original fils or separat correction files. Moreover, information originating directly from other statistical sources is covered by revision routines performed by the unit responsible for the statistics or data.

2. Revision in connection with the compilation of the waste accounts: Compilation of the different basic statistics, summed up into one single account, may reveal inconsistencies in any of the underlying statistics. In addition, shortcomings in the account, not covered by the available basic statistics, must also be incorporated. This applies to both specific years and parts of the account.

These tasks are mainly carried out by the following techniques: * By returning back to the original information source, deviations of values in different substatistics can be checked again. Then, the most credible value is chosen.

• Incomplete time series and deficiencies are interpolated. Alternatively, using for example gross product (value added), production value (output) or number of employees as an auxiliary variable, deficiencies may be amended.
• Time series are extended by extrapolation using an auxiliary variable.

Similar techniques are utilized also in the compilation of the different waste statistics. For further details, please refer to the associated publications.

 In compiling the waste accounts, all available waste statistics and other statistics, factors, etc. that may derive to waste statistics are collected and compiled. Please refer to the different waste statistics for further details.

12.4 Validation

We have tried to apply some of the validation rules suggested. 

1a and b

We have some economic activities where the calculation shows a value above or below the suggested thresholds

 In the cases where we are above or belove the treshold for hazardous waste, it is for sectors with small amounts of waste and where there will be some fluctuations. We believe them to be OK. We are not sure about the increase in waste for G46.77.

For the validation rule 1b, the numbers seem to be OK. Only three sectors show numbers above or below the treshold and they are only slightly above/below. 

Validation rules 1c

We see an increase in incinerated waste. This amount is, however not to large and we think it is correct. The decreae in incinerated waste is maily because we this year have tried to report waste treated in Norway and not as before all treatement of Norwegian waste. Hence waste exported for treatment is no loger included as it was for 2018 and earlier. 

Rule 1d - generated

Here are the material types and where the ratio of the numbers for current/previous years were above or below the suggested thresholds. We see that there are a large difference for some materials, but still considers the numbers as the best we could and can give. 

Several waste categories show a belove/above treshold value, but we do not know the reason for the change.

1e

The validation was performed and we did not see any major issues that we could do anything with. 

1f

This test where performed and we listed out the largest differences in the inner cells. The largest increase was in mineral wastes from construction and demolition and then combustion wastes. Mineral wastes seem to differ a bit from year to year and the numbers appear correct. 

When looking at the treatment the largest increase is in in mineral wastes from construction and demolition and then mixed and undifferentiated materials. 

2

The relation between treatment and generation was calculated for ordinary and hazardous waste. The hazardous waste was outside the limit. Most probably because some waste are exported for treatment abroad. 

For the calculations in validation 1a+b, we have used the following employment data and population data for 2020 and earlier years.

 - In the treatment file there is reported incineration (with and without energy recovery) considerable amounts of mixed metals (W063), discarded equipment (W08A) and other mineral wastes (W12B). These wastes are not suited for incineration. Statistics Norway get their data from waste handlers and see that whis data might not be correct or the reported treatment is before sorting. We will/can not do any correction to this now, but will try to consider such data even closer the next time, to see if the correct treatment should be something else.

- Big amounts of discarded equipment (W08A) is landfilled. This should may be have been reported as the materials they consist of. However, in Norway we use the Norwegian waste standard and in some cases it is hard to translate to the reporting standard, In this case we also do not know exactly what is reported here in in which amopunts. However we place hazardous waste of the types: oil filters, fluorescent tubes and energy saving bulbs and hazardous CFC-containing waste in this category. 

In compiling the waste accounts, all available waste statistics and other statistics, factors, etc. that may derive to waste statistics are collected and compiled. Please refer to the different waste statistics for further details.

[not requested]

Reporting is based on the waste account and all our availabe statistics. The numbers are yearly published and used by for instance the Norwegian Environment agency. In addition there is a yearly meeting with several different institutions in Norway that suggest improvemts to the waste collection and production. 

Data sources in the Waste account include both data based on reported information from businesses, enterprises or households, and data from registers. In addition, standard factors from selected studies have also been employed. A comprehensive description of errors and uncertainties of the different waste statistics entering the Waste Accounts is given in report 98/3, 2000/8, 2000/12, 2000/15, 2001/38, note 99/10 and NOS C625.

The main purpose with Waste Accounts is to present a holistic overview of the waste situation in Norway. Waste streams are quantified based on three different characteristics: material type, source of origin and treatment.

The work with the waste accounts started in 1995. The first results for paper and glass were published in 1997. Until 2011 the waste accounts showed data for paper, glass, wetorganic waste, metalls, wood, plastics, sludge, other materials and hazardous waste.

From the 2012 publications the waste accounts has been revised and new materials have been included. The waste accounts now publish data for wetorganic waste, park and garden waste, wood, sludge, paper, glass, metals, WEEE, concrete and tiles, cinders, dust, bottom ash and fly ash, plastics, rubber, textiles, discarded vehicles, hazardous waste, mixed waste, other materials and slightly polluted soil. As of the 2016 data, the data for especially the industry has been evised back to 2012 to not include biproducts. This has led to a decrease in waste, especially for the industry section (NACE C). Updated data are delivered for 2014.

The Norwegian Environment Agency makes use of the figures in their reports to the Parliament. The figures also constitute the main data source on waste statistics presented to Eurostat and OECD. Moreover, the statistics are also applied as part in the Norwegian Emission Inventory, the integrated Economic and Environmental Accounts (NAMEA) and sustainable development indicators, thereby representing a relevant foundation for resource and environmental studies. The waste account is also used by industrial and nongovernmental organisations, education and research institutes and the media.

[not requested]

The Waste Accounts is built upon several data sources. These sources contain either data based on reported information from businesses, enterprises or household, or alternatively on data registers. In addition, standard factors from selected studies have also been employed. The figures will reflect any inherent uncertainty of data sources and calculation methods in use. Possible errors and uncertainty connected to individual sources, is explained in the associated documentation.

The Waste Accounts constitutes an integrated system, involving both harmonization and control with data inconsistencies. Hence, particular parts of the accounts may actually be more reliable than the original data. On the other hand, the Waste Accounts requires estimates in parts with originally inadequate data. In these cases, the figures are generated either from residual calculations (difference between known quantities) or imputation of numbers based on different estimation techniques. Then, uncertainty can increase dramatically.

It is hard to quantify uncertainty of the Waste Accounts as a whole, mainly because the uncertainties of the different sub-accounts differ markedly. The account is structured in a way that allows the relatively uncertain parts to be separated from the more certain ones. Thus, it is possible to take uncertainty into account by using either subtotals or totals.

Some types of waste do not enter the regular waste system when obsolete, for example pipes and cables or long term storage in houses or barns etc. Due to this fact, some waste types are probably underestimated. This may represent an important factor for metals in particular.

Apart from a few expert opinions, there has been no actual attempt to calculate uncertainties of the basic statistics entering the Waste Accounts. The methodological experts of Statistics Norway consider it to complex to give a figure for the overall uncertainty.

Sampling errors arise from the fact that the estimates are based on a sample and not a census of the entire population.

A comprehensive description of errors and uncertainties of the different waste statistics entering the Waste Accounts is given in the “About the statistics” of the different waste statistics here:

http://www.ssb.no/en/natur-og-miljo/statistikker/avfhandel/aar/2013-12-11?fane=om#content

http://www.ssb.no/en/natur-og-miljo/statistikker/avfkomm/aar/2014-06-26?fane=om#content

http://www.ssb.no/en/natur-og-miljo/statistikker/avfbygganl/aar/2014-01-29?fane=om#content

http://www.ssb.no/en/natur-og-miljo/statistikker/spesavf/aar/2013-12-12?fane=om#content

http://www.ssb.no/en/natur-og-miljo/statistikker/avfind/hvert-4-aar/2011-12-12?fane=om#content

 The uncertainty inherent in external data sources of the accounts is usually hard to control.

See 5.2

-

¹⁾Please mark with an X whether the listed materials are completely covered, partially covered or generally excluded from waste statistics.

One of the main intentions with waste accounts is to build upon already existing data sources, like register data and statistics.

However it is still being collected some data from the recovery industry. This is numbers for treatment of special material fractions and types (for instance plastic packaging, WEEE and more). This extra numbers is used in the calculations of treatment numbers for the different material types.

The different waste statistics of Statistics Norway making part of the waste account use different methods of data collection. Samples and methods of data collections of waste accounts are presented in the table below.

Samples and data collection in the waste statistics forming the micro data of the waste accounts.

In Norway, the municipalities are by regulations obliged to handle all household waste, and to keep accounts for this. The survey is designed for household waste, and the data reported are on household waste only. The survey does in addition include a question on amounts of waste from commercial activities collected together with the household waste.

The main problem with misclassifications and under-coverage is in Item 3 Recovery. These facilities might be spread on different economic activities and not necessary within the registers for pollution control authorities. We have not excluded any facility, but there might be some under-coverage.

Coverage errors are due to divergences between the target population and the frame population. Coverage errors comprise over coverage, under coverage, delayed updating or classification errors in the survey frame. This kind of error might be present especially in the statistic from the manufacturing industry, but it is hard to quantify.

[not requested]

[not requested]

The external trade statistics (ETS) build on custom registrations, covering all import and export except shipments below the threshold value of 1,000 NOK. We believe that this source of error is unsignificant in the waste account. However, the threshold value would lead to incomplete estimations of transboundary movement of waste based on the ETS for several waste streams. Hence, such estimations are performed only for waste fractions with a large market value (sorted metals).

See part 5.3.3.1

Both the Industry survey and the survey of Waste from the service industry are sample surveys. Here the data are weighted after the number of employees and distributed by NACE classification. The inflation factors are calculated as the number of employees in the sample divided on the number of employees in the population. For each industry 2-3 strata are established, in addition are deviants given the weight 1. The data are inflated by a rate model.  The samples are run twice, and the second time without deviates from the first run. The results after inflation give waste amounts to all the establishments. The data is distributed by material and industry after SIC2007.

Similar processing are done for the Hazardous waste and the waste from the households if we have non-respondents. These surveys includes all enterprises/municipalities.

Since we receive a response from more than 90 per cent of the units in the sample in both the industry and the survey of waste from the service industry , the problem with non-response errors are small.

See part 5.3.3.1

    Control and revision

Revision carried out in connection with waste accounts may be divided into two steps:

• Revision of the different basic statistics
• Revision in connection with the compilation of the account

Revision of the basic statistics: The possibility for revision of basic statistics varies depending on the data collection methods in use. It also depends on which institution being responsible for the data collection. The statistics on household waste, industrial waste and hazardous waste treatment is revised mainly through the following techniques:

• Automatic controls in the electronic forms, for example numerical limits and logical controls.
• Comparison with previous reported figures for municipalities and enterprises.
• Comparison with country average and comparable municipalities and enterprises.
• Collection of missing/insufficient information.
• Direct contact with municipalities/enterprises regarding errors or cases of doubt, which cannot readily be corrected internally in Statistics Norway.

Several revision controls are carried out automatically by computer-based applications.

The micro data concerning the service industries are based on customer registers from waste collectors. Revision of these includes identifying the establishments and connecting them to the Business register, and calculating the amount of waste per employee for each establishment as a basis for identifying outliers. No corrections are made in the micro data, but some industries delivering other establishments’ waste (transport, real estate activities, etc.) are excluded from the survey.

In regards to external sources, the options for revision are more limited. In general, these sources are checked for obvious errors or shortcomings. External registers and data files are mainly revised in the following way:

• Units and values are checked against previous reference years of the same data source.
• Register units are checked automatically and manually against the Business register in Statistics Norway.
• Reported values are checked against values normally to be expected.
• Reported values are compared to values of comparable units for example assessed by size of enterprises (number of employees or turnover).

Corrections are made in copies of original files or separate correction files. Moreover, information originating directly from other statistical sources is covered by revision routines performed by the unit responsible for the statistics or data.

Revision in connection with the compilation of the waste accounts: Compilation of the different basic statistics, summed up into one single account, may reveal inconsistencies in any of the underlying statistics. In addition, shortcomings in the account, not covered by the available basic statistics, must also be incorporated. This applies to both specific years and parts of the account.

These tasks are mainly carried out by the following techniques: * By returning back to the original information source, deviations of values in different sub-statistics can be checked again. Then, the most credible value is chosen.

• Incomplete time series and deficiencies are interpolated. Alternatively, using for example gross product (value added), production value (output) or number of employees as an auxiliary variable, deficiencies may be amended.
• Time series are extended by extrapolation using an auxiliary variable.

Similar techniques are utilized also in the compilation of the different waste statistics. All available waste statistics and other statistics, factors, etc. that may derive to waste statistics are collected and compiled.

[not requested]

See part 5.3.3 and 5.3.4

[not requested]

[not requested]

See part 5.3.4

[not requested]

[not requested]

-

See 6.1.1 and 6.1.2

The Waste Account for Norway: 11-12 months from the last day of the reference period to the day of publication of first and final results.

The Waste Account for Norway:: 11-12 months from the last day of the reference period to the day of publication of complete and final results. In some cases the data may be recalculated if more and better data sources are available. Then data from several years may be recalculated.

The Waste Account for Norway was published at the target day. The data delivery of all data-sets for the WStatR-reporting was delivered on time.

 Reporting after WStatR:

The Waste Account for Norway was published at the target day.

Reporting after WStatR:

Description of data set(s) delivered:                                  Transmission date:

FAC 2020                                                          2022-06-30

GEN 2020                                                                               2022-06-30

TRT 2020                                                                               2022-06-30

QR ESS                                                                              2022-06-30

-

-

[not requested]

Comparability over time and space:

One of the goals with the waste accounts is to follow the waste amounts over time. Therefore, it has been emphasized to make the account comparable in time. As a consequence, all reference years used to revised when the waste accounts are updated. From 2012 the Waste account has been revised and the numbers are calculated based on a new method. We no longer update the numbers from prevoius years. On a more detailed level, the different basic statistics contain typical statistical errors, first of all due to change in data collection routines and samples

The work with the waste accounts started in 1995. The first results for paper and glass were published in 1997. Until 2011 the waste accounts showed data for paper, glass, wetorganic waste, metalls, wood, plastics, sludge, other materials and hazardous waste.

From the 2012 publications the waste accounts has been revised and new materials have been included. The waste accounts now publish data for wetorganic waste, park and garden waste, wood, sludge, paper, glass, metals, WEEE, concrete and tiles, cinders, dust, bottom ash and fly ash, plastics, rubber, textiles, discarded vehicles, hazardous waste, mixed waste, other materials and slightly polluted soil.

The Waste Account depends on an array of statistics for its calculations. Simultaneously, the Waste Account forms the basis of analyses and comparisons with other statistics, both internally in Statistics Norway and within external institutions.

Principally, the Waste Account is now included in the following statistics:

• Other waste statistics. For instance, the Manufacturing waste survey and are forming parts of the hazardous waste statistics.
• Discharge of methane from landfills.
• Air pollution and energy accounts (figures on waste incineration).
• NAMEA (Norwegian Economic and Environmental Accounts).
• Fees and full costs statistics in the municipal waste sector.

It is considered using waste statistics in the set of sustainable development indicators.

A long-term goal is to make the waste account more integrated into a comprehensive system of environmental and socio-economic statistics. Waste amounts can then be seen in context with environmental effects from discharge to air and water, transport and logistic, employment and withdrawal of natural resources, together with environmental consequences by production and use of commodities.

One of the goals with the waste accounts is to follow the waste amounts over time. Therefore, it has been emphasized to make the account comparable in time. Therefore, until the year 2010, all reference years were revised when the waste accounts were updated. This is not happening anymore. There are several reasons for this, one is a great change in methodology from year 2012 and another is that many sources for the statistics do not have numbers for earlier years.

From the publication in 2012, the waste types are also different and many more than before and mixed waste is no longer separated onto its different material types. By including more material types like park and garden waste, mixed waste, WEEE, discarded vehicles and cinders, dust, bottom ash and fly ash, the waste amounts on many of the other categories are smaller than before.

Comparison of waste statistics in different countries may be problematic, because of dissimilar set of definitions etc. This applies especially to waste totals, depending on what's been included in the different countries. The same applies to waste divided into different sources. The semi-annual reporting to Eurostat, pursuant to Regulation No 2150/2002 on waste statistics, is believed to have improved this situation.

The Waste Account is published annually.

[not requested]

[not requested]

[not requested]

The Waste Acoount for Norway. Annual release of statistics:

http://www.ssb.no/en/avfregno

Annual release of statistics at Statistic Norways web site:

http://www.ssb.no/en/natur-og-miljo/statistikker/avfregno/

Tables in "Statbank":

https://www.ssb.no/statistikkbanken/selecttable/hovedtabellHjem.asp?KortNavnWeb=avfregno&CMSSubjectArea=natur-og-miljo&PLanguage=1&checked=true

Tables in "Statbank":

https://www.ssb.no/statistikkbanken/selecttable/hovedtabellHjem.asp?KortNavnWeb=avfregno&CMSSubjectArea=natur-og-miljo&PLanguage=1&checked=true

About the statistics:

https://www.ssb.no/en/natur-og-miljo/statistikker/avfregno

Information on contact person:

http://www.ssb.no/en/avfregno/

Micro data are not released.

[not requested]

https://www.ssb.no/en/natur-og-miljo/statistikker/avfregno

Data sources in the Waste account include both data based on reported information from businesses, enterprises or households, and data from registers. In addition, standard factors from selected studies have also been employed. A comprehensive description of errors and uncertainties of the different waste statistics entering the Waste Accounts is given in report 98/3, 2000/8, 2000/12, 2000/15, 2001/38, note 99/10 and NOS C625.

About the statistics:

https://www.ssb.no/en/natur-og-miljo/statistikker/avfregno

About the statistics:

https://www.ssb.no/en/natur-og-miljo/statistikker/avfregno

The information on burden on respondents is limited with respect to the administrative sources as well as the majority of the statistics employed. However, some information is available on some of the statistics, and it is presented in the table below:

-

The figures are aggregated prior to release, and follow Statisrics Norways rules for confidentiality.

The Statistics Act of 21. June 2019, paragraph 7.

-