Only 1% of Sweden’s trash is sent to landfills. By burning trash, another 52% is converted into energy and the remaining 47% gets recycled. The amount of energy generated from waste alone provides heating to one million homes and electricity to 250,000.
Sweden now imports about 700,000 tons of garbage per year to help produce electricity and heating for cities such as Helsingborg, a historic coastal hub of about 100,000 people in southwestern Sweden.
Singapore’s process of trash management involves burning the trash and filtering the smoke. First, all of the trash is accumulated from all garbage cans and trash bags. Next, the trash is taken to an incineration plant to burn the trash. This fire is over 1,000 degrees Celsius, which is hot enough to “eat ” the fire. Almost all of the trash is burned, but a bit of ash remains. Then, this ash is transported to a body of water that does not touch ocean water, making it safe. Using this process, they were able to make an actual “trash island” made from repeating deposits of ash. Ironically, the island is very pleasant and clean. It can even sustain trees and other plants.
Site: Turning Waste To Energy: Sweden’s Recycling Revolution.