Collection model:
Food waste sorting stations installed outside apartment buildings (since 2014) enabling separation of kitchen waste in multi-family housing.
Treatment model:
Food waste treated within the Stockholm municipal bio-waste management system.
Key elements:
Behavioural-science-based intervention developed with researchers; barriers identified through household surveys and waste analysis; targeted leaflet using social norms and behavioural insights; inclusion of compostable paper bags; small-scale pilot with treatment and control groups.
Evidence of success:
(2015–2016 experiment) The behavioural communication intervention increased food waste sorting and reduced residual waste in the treatment group compared to the control group.
Awareness and engagement:
Behavioural communication strategy based on environmental psychology and nudging. Surveys identified key barriers (e.g., lack of information, lack of trust, inconvenience). A three-page leaflet used descriptive and injunctive social norms (“Join your neighbours”), clear sorting guidance and visuals. Compostable paper bags were distributed with the leaflet and information provided on obtaining kitchen caddies.
Stockholm City, Sweden
Scale: Local (municipal)
Demographic type: Urban neighbourhood
Population: 10,304 inh. (2021)
Organisation in charge: Stockholmshem (municipal housing company)
Source:
LIFE BIOBEST (2024). D3.4 Country Factsheets on the analysis of communication and engagement practices.