New report shows mixed waste sorting delivers the greatest climate benefit
Plastic is the most carbon-intensive material in our residual waste. By removing as much plastic as possible from the residual waste prior to incineration, we can enable more plastic recycling and reduce CO₂ emissions.
This is the conclusion of a new report conducted by Mepex, a leading consultancy in the field of circular economy. The analysis uses the City of Oslo as a research case and compares four approaches to cutting greenhouse gas emissions from waste management: 1) status quo with incineration, 2) incineration with carbon capture, 3) mixed sorting with incineration, and 4) mixed sorting, incineration, and carbon capture.
“This analysis, using Oslo as an example, shows that we can extract large amount of plastic for material recycling and simultaneously significantly reduce emissions by implementing mixed sorting. These are proven solutions and technologies that make it possible to meet both EU recycling requirements and municipal sorting requirements for plastic, as well as make significant contributions to our national climate goals,” says Tove Andersen, CEO of TOMRA.
Compared to today’s situation, all solutions contribute to significant emission cuts, but with varying efficiency and at very different costs. The greatest benefit arises when mixed sorting and carbon capture are combined: plastic is diverted and used as a raw material, while the remaining fractions are incinerated with carbon capture. The report shows that Oslo could achieve 40% greater climate cuts at less than half the cost by combining mixed sorting with carbon capture.
Key findings from the study:
- Increased material recycling of household plastic packaging waste: Mixed sorting will yield about 7,000 tons of recycled plastic raw material—10 kg per Oslo resident—from residual waste each year. From its current source separation scheme, Oslo obtains about 2.6 kg recycled plastic per person. As home to 12% of Norway’s population, increased recycling rates for Oslo will be an important contribution to achieving national targets.
- Greater climate cuts for the money: The combination of sorting and carbon capture provides an additional 11,800 tons of annual CO₂ reduction compared to carbon capture alone. The analysis also shows that the combination of mixed sorting and carbon capture results gives a cost per ton of CO₂ removed that is less than half that of carbon capture alone.
This analysis, using Oslo as an example, shows that we can extract large amounts of plastic for material recycling and simultaneously significantly reduce emissions by implementing mixed sorting.
Political and industrial significance
The report concludes that Norway cannot meet the requirements for plastic sorting through source separation alone—mixed sorting is necessary. Carbon capture cannot be seen as an alternative to mixed sorting, as it does not contribute to increased material recycling. Sorting is based on proven technology that can be implemented immediately, while carbon capture still involves significant technological development.
“We now clearly see that it is the combination of technologies that provides the greatest benefit—for the climate, resource utilization, and the economy. Norway cannot choose either carbon capture or sorting; we need both to succeed with the green transition,” says Andersen.
Områ – a new enabler for greater plastics circularity in Norway
Plastic obtained from the residual waste will consist of a variety of different plastics. If further sorted, this material can be recycled with high yield levels.
Områ is Norway’s first national sorting facility for plastics, which will be opening officially on November 5, 2025. Owned by TOMRA and Plastretur (the non-profit producer responsibility organization responsible for collecting and recycling plastic packaging in Norway), the facility is designed to capture all types of plastic from the waste stream that would otherwise not be recycled, and give it a new life as a raw material for new plastic products. Sorting mixed plastic waste into 10 plastic mono-fractions, the facility is designed to offer the purity levels required by recyclers and feedstock buyers.
The Mepex report, Plastics in Mixed Household Waste – Potential Reduction of Carbon Emissions through Material Recycling and Incineration with CCS, was commissioned by TOMRA. Click here to download a copy.
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