New waste sorting system

  1. Service
  2. Environment and transport
  3. Rubbish collection

In mid-May 2023, the implementation of a new waste sorting system began in Hafnarfjörður, similar to the rest of the capital region. Four waste streams will henceforth be collected from every household in the town, as required by law. All general information about the new system can be found on the website: www.flokkum.is.

New waste sorting system

In mid-May 2023, the implementation of a new waste sorting system began in Hafnarfjörður, and from now on, four waste streams will be collected from every household in the town in accordance with the law:

  • Food remains
  • Mixed waste
  • Plastic packaging
  • Paper and cardboard

Posters for printing

Number of new barrels at home

Number of permanent residents at each address 240L dual-compartment wheelie bin: 240L brown bin:
1 1 0
2 2 0
3 3 0
4-7 0 2
8-10 0 3
11-13 0 4
14-16 0 5
17-19 0 6
20-26 0 7
27-29 0 8
30-33 0 9
34-36 0 10
37-40 0 11
41-43 0 12
44-47 0 13
48-50 0 14
51-54 0 15
55-57 0 16
58-61 0 17
62-64 0 18
65-67 0 19

Example

  • A detached house (one landline) receives one 240-litre bin.
  • Dwellings (three landlines) receive three 240L dual-wheeled bins.
  • A multi-family building with 14 flats (telephone numbers) gets 5 brown bins.
  • A block of flats with 56 flats (telephone numbers) receives 16 brown bins.

Private residence

Split container

At each detached house (Detached houses, semi-detached houses and terraced houses) one 240-litre dual-chambered bin has been added for each property. The dual-chambered bin is for food waste and mixed waste.

Repurposed container

The rubbish bins that were there were re-labelled. The grey bin for plastic packaging and the blue bin for paper and cardboard. The idea is that all single-family homes will have three containers after the change.

Purchase of a split container

Now, owners of detached houses who are active in recycling and have their 240L plastic and paper bins half-empty can buy another one. Dual-compartment 240L bin for plastic and paper. There will be no increased collection frequency for households with two split bins.

 

Split container

A split 240L bin for plastic and paper can be purchased.

Multi-unit residential building

Container for food scraps

We multi-tenancy Additional 240L kerbside food waste bins are provided, with the number of bins tailored to the needs of each block of flats.

Assembly of containers

Bins/carts for mixed waste and plastic will be re-labelled. Blue bins/carts for paper/cardboard will also be re-labelled.

Skips for blocks of flats

At a block of flats with deep ravine Cooperation with residents' associations has begun to find a solution to the collection of waste streams.

Disposal, dustbin and skip

Plastic bin and paper bags - organic waste

Simultaneous distribution of containers All homes get plastic baskets and paper bags to collect food scraps at home. Bags will be free in supermarkets throughout the year. It is not permitted to use any other type of bag, whether paper, corn or plastic, for food scraps.

Release rate

Bins for food waste and mixed waste will continue to be collected fortnightly. Bins for plastic and paper will continue to be collected simultaneously every 28 days. It is not possible to apply for an increased frequency of rubbish collection. Here you can view the collection dates for your home. Please send any reports of rubbish collection issues, for example if a bin has not been emptied, to the Hafnarfjörður Service Centre at the following email address: thm@hafnarfjordur.is or call 585-5670.

 

General information about the rubbish bins

In Hafnarfjörður, residents own their own rubbish bins and are responsible for their replacement. Applications for the purchase of new 240L bins and for additional collections for extra bins can be found at Our pages under Applications (the application Rubbish binThe City of Hafnarfjörður does not sell 660L bins; they can be purchased from Terra and the Icelandic Container Company. New lids for rubbish bins (for 2013 models and earlier), taps and wheels are sold at the service centre reception at Norðurhellu 2.

Rubbish bin garden

No planning permission is required when refuse bin stores are built or altered. However, sightlines must be considered, for example, due to parking spaces, and when a refuse bin store is at the boundary of a plot, the consent of the adjoining plot owner is required. Homeowners can send a drawing to the building officer at the email address: byggingafulltrui@hafnarfjordur.is

Communication

Residents are encouraged to contact the City of Hafnarfjörður if they have any questions by: