Packaging waste by waste management operations (env_waspac)

1.1. Contact organisation

Norwegian Environement agency

1.2. Contact organisation unit

Section for circular economy

1.3. Contact name

Confidential because of GDPR

1.4. Contact person function

Confidential because of GDPR

1.5. Contact mail address

Grensesvingen 7, Oslo

1.6. Contact email address

Confidential because of GDPR

1.7. Contact phone number

Confidential because of GDPR

1.8. Contact fax number

Confidential because of GDPR

2.1. Metadata last certified

27 June 2025

2.2. Metadata last posted

27 June 2025

2.3. Metadata last update

27 June 2025

3.1. Data description

The statistic provides a yearly estimate. The data is provided by the PROs in the EPR schemes for packaging and packaging waste. The derogation to make use of the delegated act on average loss rates has not been applied.

3.1.1. Description of the parties involved in the data collection

Table : Institutions involved in the collection of data and distribution of tasks

Name of institution	Description of key responsibilities
EPR (Extended producer responsibility) scheems and PROs (Producer responsibility organisations) on packaging	Reporting data on POM (placed on the market) and waste treatment for packaging placed on marked by their members
Cowi	Metods for compiling EPR reports and packaging and packaging waster from those not registed under an EPR

3.2. Classification system

The R/D codes are used when exporting waste. The EPR schemes have reported the amounts recycled and in which country. Norway has no national code.

3.2.1. Classification of treatment operations

The R/D codes are used when exporting waste. The EPR schemes have reported the amounts recycled and in which country. Norway has no national code.

3.3. Coverage - sector

According to the Norwegian waste regulation, chapter 7, all producers who introduce at least 1,000 kg of a packaging type to the market per year must have a membership in a PRO approved by the Norwegian Environment Agency. The data from the PROs is the basis for the reporting on packaging and packaging waste in Norway.

3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions

Estimated amounts of wooden packagning that is repaired for reuse is taken into account in the reporting. Metals in incenartion bottom ash is included in the reporting.

3.4.1. Types of reuse system in place for each material type

Glass bottles for beverages: One minor reuse system is in place. Wooden packaging: In particular wooden pallets are reused quite extensivly. Plastic transportation packaging: several reuse system for transport packaging in plastic.

3.4.2. Other recovery of waste

The waste and treatment types related to "other recovery" are not relevant.

3.4.3. Information on temporary storage of packaging waste

The information is based on the EPR schemes reports from the PROs. Information of temporary storage of packaging waste is not available.

3.5. Statistical unit

The PROs collect data from the members (producers).

3.6. Statistical population

Enterprises that produce or import more than 1000 kg packaging in/to the norwegian market.

3.7. Reference area

Norway, not including Svalbard and Jan Mayen.

3.8. Coverage - Time

The statistics from the first PROs started in 2015.

3.9. Base period

Not applicable.

Tonnes

Calendar year

6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements

Norwegian Waste regulation Chapter 6 and 7.

6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing

Statistics on packaging and packaging waste are in accordance with the Commission Decision 2005/270/EC.

7.1. Confidentiality - policy

Unauthorised disclosure of data that identify a person or economic entity either directly or indirectly is prevented by following the Norwegian Freedom of Information act. European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment

Unauthorised disclosure is prevented by following the Norwegian Freedom of information act.

8.1. Release calendar

Not applicable

8.2. Release calendar access

There is no release calendar.

8.3. Release policy - user access

The general statistics are available on Emballasjeavfall (miljodirektoratet.no).

Yearly.

10.1. Dissemination format - News release

The Norwegian environmental agency does not publish a press relase. Several of the PROs usually present their data in a news relase.

10.2. Dissemination format - Publications

The data is not published in publications, but the generel trend is updated yealry on the following websites:

• Environmental goals 4.4:  Increasing material recycling  of waste (available in Norwegian);
• Waste types:  Packaging (including the methodology applied)  (available in Norwegian).

10.3. Dissemination format - online database

Anyone can access most of the information reported from the PROs in the portal einnsyn.no.

10.4. Dissemination format - microdata access

• Microdata is not accessible.
• Some microdata may be accessible on demand.

10.5. Dissemination format - other

Other information collected but not transmitted to Eurostat: The coverage of waste collection in the different counties in Norway.

10.6. Documentation on methodology

The PROS must report to the norwegian environment agency in accordance with the norwegian waste regulation chapter 6 and 7. The PROs are obligated to have documation on the methodology available on request.

10.7. Quality management - documentation

Not available.

11.1. Quality assurance

The agency cross-checks the data after april 1st of each year. If deviances from last year are uncovered, or any other anomaly, the PROs are asked to clearify these before we report data to eurostat.

11.2. Quality management - assessment

Not available

12.1. Relevance - User Needs

Eurostat, statistics norway (for municipal waste) and other users.

12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction

Not applicable.

12.3. Completeness

All producers or importer who supplies the market with at least 1,000 kg of a specific type of packaging per year must finance the collection, sorting, material recycling, and other treatment of used packaging and packaging waste through membership in an approved PRO. Some producers are per 2023 not part of an approved PRO. For some packaging types the amount of packaging by free riders are estimated.

13.1. Accuracy - overall

An estimated 25-30 % of producers of plastic and paper/cardbord pacakging are free riders which results in uncertainty concerning total packaging and packaging waste generated and treated. For plastic packaging the amount is estimated to about 30 % and for paper/cardbourd the amount is estiamted to about 13 %. The extent of free riders is based on customs data and information in The Register of Business Enterprises. The amount for freeriders are added to energy recovery (not to recycling) - there is some uncertainty here. This is the forth year most of the EPR schemes report on reuse packaging, this may effect the data quality. In addition free-riders is an issue which also affects data quality.

13.1.1. Statistical surveys used regarding packaging waste generation and treatment

The information in this section is to provide an overarching understanding of the accuracy of any statistical surveys used relating to packaging waste. Some of the information may be available in previous questions.

 

Component of packaging waste	Year	Statistical units	Percentage of population surveyed	Data (tonnes)	Confidence level	Error margin	Details of adjustments from the survey year to the current year	Other details
Not applicable	Not applicable	Not applicable	Not applicable	Not applicable	Not applicable	Not applicable	Not applicable	Not applicable

13.1.2. Statistical surveys used regarding reusable packaging

The information in this section is to provide an overarching understanding of the accuracy of any statistical surveys used relating to packaging waste. Some of the information may be available in other concepts.

 

Packaging material	Year	Statistical units	Percentage of population surveyed	Data (tonnes)	Confidence level	Error margin	Details of adjustments from the survey year to the current year	Other details
Not applicable	Not applicable	Not applicable	Not applicable	Not applicable	Not applicable	Not applicable	Not applicable	Not applicable

13.2. Sampling error

Not applicable.

13.3. Non-sampling error

Under responsibility of PROs.

14.1. Timeliness

The data for the whole year of 2023 was reported from the EPR schemes to the agency by april 1 st of 2024. The data was reviewed in the months after.

14.2. Punctuality

The statistics are posted on the website miljøstatus.no in the same year as the data was reported. There is no fixed date.

15.1. Comparability - geographical

Not applicable.

15.2. Comparability - over time

No significant changes in 2023.

15.3. Coherence - cross domain

The data are collected from the PROs in charge of the EPR schemes.

15.4. Coherence - internal

Not available.

15.4.1. Explanation for any component with a greater than 10 % variation

Explanation detailing the causes of the tonnage difference (in relation to which waste streams, sectors or estimates have caused the difference, and what the underlying cause is) for any component of packaging waste generated and recycled which shows greater than a 10 % variation from the data submitted for the previous data year.

Material	Variation (%)	Main reason for variation
Wood packaging	86 %	The reporting method for wooden packaging was changed in 2022. For 2022 we assumed that there was some underreporting on amounts generated/recycled/recovered. We see that the PRO has a larger share of the marked for 2023 and the amounts reported have augmented.
Ferrous Metal	103 %	Prior to 2022, the EPR scheme for metal packaging waste used a method developed by consultants to calculate the amounts from incineration bottom ash. In may 2022, the method layed out in 2005/270/EC implementing decision (EU) 2019/665 was implemented in the norwegian law. This change in method, meant a new way of gathering information, and this change in the way the PRO gahters infomation has taken time. During 2023, the PRO in charge of ferrous metal packaging gathered information from more incineration plants than in 2022, which has resulted in a reporting of more ferrous metal from IBA.
Plastic	260 %	In recent years, there has been increased attention on reusable packaging and what it entails. The largest producer responsibility organization for plastic packaging suggests that the rise in reported plastic pacakging (rotations) may be due to more members reporting the use of reusable packaging, an actual increase in its usage (and in packaging with higher number of rotations), and possibly the replacement of long-lived reusable packaging.

Not applicable.

17.1. Data revision - policy

We follow the Norwegian Freedom of information act for transparacy.

17.2. Data revision - practice

Most sourses and methods are unchanged, some new PROs are operating. Backwards correction has not been done and is not planned for.

18.1. Source data

Data reported form the PROs on packaging (glass, metal, plastics, paper and board, wood) and estimated amount for free riders based on consultent reports and official statistics for freeriders.

18.1.1. Waste samples from waste analysis

The waste samples for waste analysis are taken from:

 

Approach	Details about the flows of waste covered
Directly from the bin	No
From the waste trucks	No
Other approaches	No

18.1.2. Source of waste flow data for estimation

	Sources	Materials covered
Waste collectors	No	no
Waste treatment operators	No	no
Municipalities	No	no
Others	No	no

18.2. Frequency of data collection

The frequency of data collection depends on the PROs. The PROs are obligated to have documentation on how they collect data, and the documentation should be available on request from the authorities

18.3. Data collection

For packaging and packaging waste, official statistics is not used.

18.3.1. Description of the methodology and verification of data on packaging waste generated in case waste analysis is used

Waste analysis is not used by the norwegian environement agency.

18.3.2. Description of the methodology to report on composite packaging

Component > 5% is included in the right material types. We have not received detailed information about the amount related to composite material.

18.3.3. Description of methods for determining packaging waste treatment

Packaging waste material	Total	Plastic	Wood	Ferrous metals	Aluminium	Glass	Paper and Cardboard	Other
Data collection methods
Administrative reporting	no	no	no	no	no	no	no	no
Surveys	no	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO
Electronic registry	NO	no	no	no	no	no	no	nop
Waste analysis	no	no	no	no	no	no	no	no
Data from waste operators	no	no	no	no	on	no	no	no
Data from municipalities	no	no	no	no	no	no	no	no
Data from extended producer responsibility schemes	no	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	no
Other	no	yes	no	no	no	on	yes	no

 

Additional information about the methodology, including the combination of methods used:

Treatement of packaging waste is reported annualy by the different PRO schemes who have the most precise knowledge of how packaging waste is treated. The estimated amount of free riders for paper and cardboard and plastic is bases on the same metods as for 2020 reporting conducted by a consultent.

18.3.4. Explanation of the scope and validity of surveys to collect data on the generation and treatment of packaging waste

Not applicable

18.3.5. Explanation of the scope and validity of surveys to collect data on reusable packaging

• Annualy reported glass packaging for beverages from one PRO in compliance with chapter 6 of the Norwegian waste regulation.
• Annually reported plastic transport packaging from one PRO in compliance with chapter 7 of the Norwegian waste regulation.
• Annually reported wood packaging from one PRO in compliance with chapter 7 of the Norwegian waste regulation.

18.3.6. Detailed description of the method to collect data in order to calculate the amount of metals separated from incineration bottom ash

Calculation of recycling of metals from incinerator bottom ash : Detailed description of the method to collect data in order to calculate the amount of metals separated from incineration bottom ash in accordance with the Commission Implementing Act adopted in accordance with Article 37(7) of Directive 2008/98/EC.

 

Data	Description of the measurement method to obtain the data
Total amount of metal concentrate extracted from incinerator bottom ash	The information is based on the EPR schemes report
Average level of metallic content in the total amount of metal concentrate, including the reliability of any surveys undertaken	The information is based on the EPR schemes report
Proportion of waste entering incineration plants that is packaging waste, including the reliability of any surveys undertaken	The information is based on the EPR schemes report

18.4. Data validation

The report from the EPR schemes are regarded as public information. If a PRO concider that some information is competitively sensitive information (eg. country where the packaging waste is recycled), they must justify it.

18.4.1. Detailed description of the system for quality control and traceability for packaging waste pursuant to Article 6a(3) and (8) of Directive 94/62/EC

The report from the EPR schemes are regarded as public information. If the PRO concider that some information is competitively sensitive information (eg. country where the packaging waste is recycled), they must justify it.

18.4.2. Traceability of waste treated outside the member State and ensuring its treatment in conditions broadly equivalent to the requirements of EU environmental law

Packaging waste material	Subject to final treatment in the Member State (yes/no)	Shipped to another EU Member State (yes/no)	Exported outside the EU (yes/no)	Description of specific measures for quality control and traceability of packaging waste, in particularly as regards monitoring and validation of data
Plastic	Not available	Not available	Not available	The PROs are responcible for the quality control. Waste shipped to EU member state or exported outside EU is handled according til (EU) 1013/2006
Wood	Not available	Not available	Not available	The PROs are responcible for the quality control. Waste shipped to EU member state or exported outside EU is handled according til (EU) 1013/2006
Ferrous metals	Not available	Not available	Not available	The PROs are responcible for the quality control. Waste shipped to EU member state or exported outside EU is handled according til (EU) 1013/2006
Aluminium	Not available	Not available	Not available	The PROs are responcible for the quality control. Waste shipped to EU member state or exported outside EU is handled according til (EU) 1013/2006
Glass	Not available	Not available	Not available	The PROs are responcible for the quality control. Waste shipped to EU member state or exported outside EU is handled according til (EU) 1013/2006
Paper and cardboard	Not available	Not available	Not available	The PROs are responcible for the quality control. Waste shipped to EU member state or exported outside EU is handled according til (EU) 1013/2006
Others	no	no	no	nor relevant

 

18.4.3. Description of measures to ensure broadly equivalent waste treatment

Waste shipped to EU member state or exported outside EU is handled according til (EU) 1013/2006.

18.4.4. Verification of data on packaging waste generated

The columns in the table relate to information on verification procedures used within the national statistical reporting system to validate the accuracy of the data.

Packaging waste material		Cross-check (yes/no)	Time-series check (yes/no)	Audit (yes/no)	Verification process
Plastic		No	yes	yes	Audit: A thrid party audit requierd for beverage packaging because of link to tax system. Times-series check: Brief comparison to data from previous years
Wood		no	yes	no	no
Ferrous metals		no	yes	yes	no
Aluminium		no	yes	yes	Audit: A thrid party audit requierd for beverage packaging because of link to tax system. Times-series check: Brief comparison to data from previous years
Glass		no	yes	yes	Audit: A thrid party audit requierd for beverage packaging because of link to tax system. Times-series check: Brief comparison to data from previous years
Paper and cardboard		no	yes	yes	Audit: A thrid party audit requierd for beverage packaging because of link to tax system. Times-series check: Brief comparison to data from previous years
Others		no	no	no	no

18.4.5. Verification of data on packaging waste recycling

The columns in the table relate to information on verification procedures used within the national statistical reporting system to validate the accuracy of the data.

Packaging waste material	Cross-check (yes/no)	Time-series check (yes/no)	Audit (yes/no)	Verification process
Plastic	NO	YES	NO	NO
Wood	NO	YES	NO	NO
Ferrous metals	NO	YES	NO	NO
Aluminium	NO	YES	NO	NO
Mixed waste	NO	NO	NO	NO
Others	NO	NO	NO	NO

18.5. Data compilation

See 18.5.1.

18.5.1. Methods for determining packaging waste generation

Approach	% of waste generated based on this approach
Approach 1 Put on the Market (POM) based on EPR data, complemented with estimates to ensure full coverage of the EPR data	Ca (ca=about) 70%
Approach 2 POM based on sources other than EPR (e.g. based on production and import statistics and factors to estimate the amount of packaging associated to these product flows)	Ca 30%
Approach 3 Waste analysis	Not applicable
Other approaches :	Not applicable

18.5.1.1. Approach 1 - Put on the Market (POM) based on EPR

Primary sources and their shares in the total.

 Fields not filled in: No

Sources for calculation of PoM	% of packaging total covered								Threshold of this source(*)
	Total	Plastic	Wood	Ferrous metals	Aluminium	Glass	Paper and Cardboard	Other
EPR scheme data	no	69	100	100	100	199	88	no	no
Administrative reporting different from EPR	no	no	no	no	no	no	no	no	no
Surveys	no	no	no	no	no	no	no	no	no
Electronic registry:	no	no	no	no	no	no	no	no	no
Other :	no	no	no	no	no	no	no	no	no

(*) Necessity of a certain minimum amount of waste, turnover etc. to be registered 

18.5.1.2. Approach 2 - Put on the market (POM) calculated from production and reign trade statistics and using coefficients of packaging for the sold goods in question

Primary sources and their shares in the total.

 Fields not filled in: No

Sources for calculation of PoM	% of packaging total covered								Threshold of this source(*)
	Total	Plastic	Wood	Ferrous metals	Aluminium	Glass	Paper and Cardboard	Other
Production statistics	no	no	no	no	no	no	no	no	no
Foreign trade statistics	no	no	no	no	no	no	no	no	no
Specific surveys :	no	no	no	no	no	no	no	no	no
Electronic registry :	no	31	no	no	no	no	12	no	no
Other :	no	no	no	no	no	no	no	no	no

(*) Necessity of a certain minimum amount of waste, turnover etc. to be registered

18.5.1.3. Approach 3 - Waste analysis

Packaging waste generated estimated by waste analysis

 All field: Not applicable

Type of waste	Number of samples taken	Total volume or weight of samples taken		What proportion does the sample represent of the total waste generated (in %)	Frequency of sample
		Volume in cubic metres	Weight in tonnes
Mixed household and similar waste	Not applicable	Not applicable	Not applicable	Not applicable	Not applicable
Separately collected municipal waste	Not applicable	Not applicable	Not applicable	Not applicable	Not applicable
Separately collected business waste	Not applicable	Not applicable	Not applicable	Not applicable	Not applicable
Others :	Not applicable	Not applicable	Not applicable	Not applicable	Not applicable

18.5.2. Information on estimates for packaging placed on the market

Glass, paper and cardboard, wood: estimates based on information from PROs on coverage/market shares Plastics: consultant company conducted a separate study of total amounts based on customs data and information from the PROs. Freeriders for plastic and paper/cardboard is estiamated based on a study conducted by the consultant.

18.5.3. Presence and calculation of estimates and indication of added volume in % of the total

Packaging waste material	Total	Plastic	Wood	Ferrous metals	Aluminium	Glass	Paper and Cardboard	Other
Validation
Corrections for underreporting of units covered by the above sources	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Estimates for units below the threshold (de minimis)	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Estimates for other units legally exempt from reporting	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Estimates for freeriders	No	yes	No	No	No	No	No	No
Private imports /exports by private parcels	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Private imports /exports (from journeys)	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Internet imports and exports i.e. on-line sales	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Other corrections	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No

18.5.4. Measurement points for recycling applied

Packaging waste material	Description of measurement points used (at calculation point or at the output of sorting operation with subtraction of non-target materials as appropriate, end-of-waste criteria, etc.), including variation at regional and local level
Plastic	The reported amount of recycled material is measured when it leaves the sorting prosess and the losses are deducted.
Wood	The reported amount of recycled material is measured when it leaves the sorting prosess and the losses are deducted.
Ferrous metals	The reported amount of recycled material is measured when it leaves the sorting prosess and the losses are deducted.
Aluminium	The reported amount of recycled material is measured when it leaves the sorting prosess and the losses are deducted.
Glass	The reported amount of recycled material is measured when it leaves the sorting prosess and the losses are deducted.
Paper and cardboard	The reported amount of recycled material is measured when it leaves the sorting prosess and the losses are deducted.
Others	Not relevant

18.5.4.1. Detailed description of the methodology to calculate the amount of non-target materials removed between the measurement and the calculation points, where applicable

The information is based on the EPR schemes report.

18.5.4.2. Detailed description of how compostable packaging recovered at biowaste treatment plants has been identified and recorded in the data

Not available

18.5.5. Methodology to determine recycled amounts from composite packaging or packaging composed of multiple materials

The information is based on the EPR schemes report.

18.5.6. Use of Average Loss rates (ALRS)

Description of the sorted packaging waste to which ALRs are applied, types of sorting plants to which different ALRs apply, the methodological approach to calculating ALRs at such point(s), including the statistical accuracy of any surveys used, or the nature of any technical specifications.

 Some avergae loss rates reported from the largest PROs. 

 

Sorted waste material and sorting plant type	ALR applied (in %)	Description
Plastic (household watse)	28,7	The reported amount of recycled material is measured when it leaves the sorting prosess and the losses are deducted.
Plastic (commercial waste)	18	The reported amount of recycled material is measured when it leaves the sorting prosess and the losses are deducted.
Carboard	3	The reported amount of recycled material is measured when it leaves the sorting prosess and the losses are deducted.
Brown paper	13	The reported amount of recycled material is measured when it leaves the sorting prosess and the losses are deducted.
Aluminium (not IBA, Germany)	37	The reported amount of recycled material is measured when it leaves the sorting prosess and the losses are deducted.
Ferrous metal (not IBA, Norway)	50	The reported amount of recycled material is measured when it leaves the sorting prosess and the losses are deducted.
Glass	0	The reported amount of recycled material is measured when it leaves the sorting prosess and the losses are deducted.

18.6. Adjustment

See 18.6.1-3.

18.6.1. Adjustment for impurities and humidity

Factors	Total	Plastic	Wood	Ferrous metals	Aluminium	Glass	Paper and Cardboard	Other
Correction factors for impurities and humidity in % of waste	Not available	23,3	Not available	50	37	Not available	13 / 3	Not available
How the correction factors are derived	Reported from the PROs
If no correction of impurities and humidity is applied, how they are accounted	The agency does not apply correction factors, as the correction has already been included in the data reported from the EPR schemes. In the report, the correction factors, where applicable, have to be listed. Above the factors are a mean reported from the largest PROs for each packaging type.

18.6.2. Attribution of waste to packaging and non-packaging types and correction for humidity

Description, where applicable, of the methodology to exclude non-packaging waste from the reported amount of recycled packaging waste and of the methodology to correct the amount of packaging waste at the measurement point in order to reflect the natural humidity rate of packaging (including by using relevant European standards). Aggregated data across facilities of a similar type is acceptable.

 In Norway, packaging waste is collected seperatly (glass and metals, paper and cardboard, plastic).

 

18.6.3. Attribution of waste

Description of the methodology to exclude waste originating from other countries, where applicable. Aggregated data across facilities of a similar type is acceptable.

There is no methodology to exclude waste originating from other countries.

There is no official Norwegian statistical collection of data on packaging and packaging waste. The data reported are based on data from the EPR schemes.

The statistic provides a yearly estimate. The data is provided by the PROs in the EPR schemes for packaging and packaging waste. The derogation to make use of the delegated act on average loss rates has not been applied.

27 June 2025

Estimated amounts of wooden packagning that is repaired for reuse is taken into account in the reporting. Metals in incenartion bottom ash is included in the reporting.

The PROs collect data from the members (producers).

Enterprises that produce or import more than 1000 kg packaging in/to the norwegian market.

Norway, not including Svalbard and Jan Mayen.

Calendar year

An estimated 25-30 % of producers of plastic and paper/cardbord pacakging are free riders which results in uncertainty concerning total packaging and packaging waste generated and treated. For plastic packaging the amount is estimated to about 30 % and for paper/cardbourd the amount is estiamted to about 13 %. The extent of free riders is based on customs data and information in The Register of Business Enterprises. The amount for freeriders are added to energy recovery (not to recycling) - there is some uncertainty here. This is the forth year most of the EPR schemes report on reuse packaging, this may effect the data quality. In addition free-riders is an issue which also affects data quality.

Tonnes

See 18.5.1.

Data reported form the PROs on packaging (glass, metal, plastics, paper and board, wood) and estimated amount for free riders based on consultent reports and official statistics for freeriders.

Yearly.

The data for the whole year of 2023 was reported from the EPR schemes to the agency by april 1 st of 2024. The data was reviewed in the months after.

Not applicable.

No significant changes in 2023.