Residual waste / Restaffald

See the most important Danish waste categories and how correct sorting helps materials move on to recycling.

Residual waste

Click a waste category to read more about it.

Cardboard
Paper
Hazardous waste
Textile waste
Plastic
Residual waste
Small electronics
Glass
Food and beverage cartons
Food waste
Metal
Batteries

In short

Residual waste is what remains after reuse, recycling, food waste, hazardous waste, electronics and special schemes have been sorted out. It should be used as the last option.

Common mistakes

  • Hazardous waste, batteries and electronics must not go in residual waste.
  • Food, paper, cardboard, plastic, glass and metal should be sorted separately if your municipality has a scheme.
  • Large items, construction waste and garden waste usually belong at a recycling centre.
  • Sharp objects must be packed safely or delivered according to local municipal rules.

Last option or wrong sorting?

Residual waste is for items that cannot be sorted better

Hygiene waste, vacuum cleaner bags, very dirty packaging, small composite items and waste without a recycling option can typically go in residual waste.

Keep valuable and hazardous waste out

Residual waste is normally sent for incineration. Recyclable materials and hazardous waste should therefore be sorted out so resources are used and harmful substances are handled correctly.

Check local rules

Danish municipalities may have different rules for ash, sharp objects, ceramics, porcelain, hygiene waste, small combustible waste and items too large for the residual-waste bin. Find your municipality.

Residual waste

Residual waste is the waste that remains when recyclable, reusable, hazardous and special waste has been sorted out. It is for items that do not fit into the other Danish waste categories or cannot currently be recycled through normal household schemes.

Use residual waste last

Residual waste is usually sent for incineration with energy recovery. It should therefore be used only when the item cannot be sorted into a more specific category. Hazardous waste, batteries, electronics, glass, metal, paper, cardboard and food waste should not be placed in residual waste when a separate sorting option exists.

FAQ about residual waste

What is residual waste?+

Residual waste is waste that cannot be reused, recycled or delivered through a special scheme. It is what remains after the other fractions have been sorted out.

What happens to residual waste?+

Residual waste is typically sent for incineration, where the energy is used for electricity and heating. Reuse and recycling are still better whenever possible.

Can batteries go in residual waste?+

No. Batteries can create fire risk and contain harmful substances. They must be delivered through the battery scheme, hazardous-waste box or recycling centre.

Can ceramics and porcelain go in residual waste?+

Small amounts may go in residual waste in some municipalities, but larger amounts often belong at a recycling centre. They must not be sorted as glass.

Can ash go in residual waste?+

Only if it is completely cold, packed safely and allowed by the municipality. Hot ash can create a fire risk.

Waste items sorted as residual waste / Restaffald

Air filter

Air fryer paper liner

Air mattress

Aluminium tray

Animal excrement

Artificial nails

Ash

Backpack

Bag with dog waste

Bag-in-box wine

Bakery bag

Baking paper

Baking soda paper bag

Balloon

Ballpoint pen

Bamboo

Bandage

Barbecue ash

Barbecue charcoal

Barbie doll

Basketball

Bath mat

Bath soap

Bath sponge

Bead

Beard hair

Bicycle helmet

Bicycle pump

Big bag

Biobag

Bird fat balls in net

Blender glass jug

Blister pack

Blood pressure cuff

Blu-ray disc

Body hair

Bouncy ball

Boxed wine packaging

Bread bag

Bread clip

Broken glass

Broken pottery

Broom handle

Broom shrub

Brush

Bubble wrap envelope

Butter packaging

Cactus

Cake box

Candle

Candle stub

Candle wax

Candlestick

Candy wrapper

Capri-Sun pouch

Car mat

Caramel wrapper

Carbon filter

Carbon paper

Cardboard

Cardboard packaging

Cash receipt

Cassette tape

Cat faeces

Cat food pouch

Cat hair

Cat litter

Cat tray litter

Catheter

CD

Cellophane

Cellulose insulation

Ceramic

Ceramic cup

Ceramic shards

Chalk

Chamois cloth

Champagne cork

Charcoal

Cheese rind

Chewing gum

Chimney soot

Chocolate bar paper wrapper

Chocolate wrapper

Chopstick

Christmas bauble

Christmas wrapping paper

Cigar

Cigarette

Cigarette butt

Cigarette pack

Cigarette paper

Cleaning cloth

Cleaning glove

Cleaning sponge

Cling film

Clogs

Clothes peg

Clothesline

Cocktail stick

Coffee

Coffee bag

Coffee capsule

Coffee cup

Coffee mug

Coffee pot

Collar

Colostomy bag

Coloured pencil

Condom

Condom wrapper

Contact lenses

Copy carbon paper

Cork

Cork stopper

Cosmetics

Cotton bud

Cotton pads

Cotton wool

Cotton wool pad

COVID test

Cream tub

Credit card

Creme fraiche tub

Crisps bag

Crisps tube

Crushed glass

Cutlery with wooden handle

Damp clothes

Dead animal

Dead bird

Dead mole

Dead rabbit

Debit card

Dental floss

Denture

Diaper

Dice

Dietary supplements

Dirty paper

Dirty plastic

Discarded shoe

Dish brush

Dish sponge

Dishcloth

Dishwasher salt

Disposable cloth

Disposable cup

Disposable face mask

Disposable glove

Disposable plastic tableware

Disposable razor

Dog faeces

Dog food

Dog hair

Dog leash

Dog poop bag

Dog waste bag

Doll

Doormat

Drinking glass

Dryer lint

Duct tape

Dumbbell

Dust

Dust mask

DVD

Earplugs

Earthenware pottery

Egg tray

Elastic band

Elastic cord

Electrical conduit

Empty tube packaging

EPS foam

Eyeliner

Eyeshadow

Face cream

Face mask

Facial tissue

Faeces

False eyelashes

Feather

Felt-tip pen

Fibre concrete

Fibreglass wallpaper

Fidget spinner

Filter bag

Fireworks

Fishing rod

Flexible pipe

Flip-flop

Floor drain sludge

Floppy disk

Floppy diskette

Floral foam

Foam ball

Foam board

Foam cleaning cloth

Foam cloth

Foam cushion

Foam meat tray

Foam plastic

Foam rubber

Foam tray

Foam wrap

Folding ruler

Food wrapping paper

Foot file

Foot scraper

Football

Frozen food bag

Fruit net

Fur

Fuse beads

Garden fleece fabric

Garden hose spray gun

Gardening gloves

Gauze

Gauze bandage

Gift ribbon

Gift wrap

Glasses

Glasses case

Glasses frame

Glasses wipe

Glitter

Glitter paper

Glove

Glow stick

Glue stick

Golf ball

Gramophone record

Grass clippings

Grinding stone

Guitar string

Gypsum plaster

Hair

Hair tie

Hair wax

Hairbrush

Hand soap

Handball

Hard plastic

Hay

Health insurance card

Heat pack

Hedgehog carcass

Horse droppings

Human faeces

Hygiene waste

Ice cream stick

Ice cream wrapper

Impregnated textile

Inhaler

Instant coffee pouch

Insulated cup

Insulated glass

Interleaving paper

Japanese knotweed

Jigsaw puzzle

Joint butt

Kitchen roll

Kitchen roll paper

Kleenex tissue

Knee pad

Krenit bowl

Label sticker

Laminated paper

Lampshade

Large plastic sack

Latex clothing

Latex condom

Latex glove

Leather clothing

Leather shoes

Leaves

LEGO bricks

Limescale filter

Lint

Lint roller

Lint roller sheet

Lip balm

Lipstick

Liver pate tray

Lollipop

Magnetic stripe card

Makeup remover

Margrethe mixing bowl

Marker pen

Mascara

Match

Matchbox

Melamine

Menstrual cup

Microfiber cloth

Microfibre cleaning cloth

Microwave popcorn bag

Milk slice snack

Miniature figure

Modelling clay

Moist wipe

Mosquito net

Mouldy clothes

Mouse carcass

Mucus

Muffin case

Mug

Musical birthday card

Mussel shell

Nail brush

Nail clipping

Nail file

Napkin

Nasal spray

NemID code card

New Year party hat

Nicorette ampoule

Nicotine pouch

Nicotine pouches

Nitrile glove

Nursing pad

Office folder

Oil canister

Overtrousers

Ovulation test

Oyster shell

Pacifier

Packing tape

Padded envelope

Paint brush

Paint roller

Painter’s tape

Panty liner

Paper cup

Paper from meat tray

Paper plate

Paper tissue

Paper towel

Papier-mache

Paraffin

Parchment paper

Passport

Payment card

Payment card with chip

Peanut bag

Pencil

Pencil lead

Pepper grinder

Pet bedding

Pet faeces

Pet food sack

Pet hair

Pet litter

Pet waste

Phone case

Photo negatives

Photo paper

Photograph

Picture album

Picture frame

Picture frame glass

Pill packaging

Pin

Pipe cleaner

Pipe tobacco

Pizza box

Pizza carton

Placemat

Plastic bag

Plastic bag clip

Plastic bucket

Plastic doll

Plastic drinking cup

Plastic food container

Plastic sheet

Plastic toy without electronics

Plastic-coated cardboard

Playing cards

Plunger

Pocket tissue

Polycarbonate

Polystyrene

Polystyrene beads

Polystyrene packaging

Popcorn bag

Porcelain

Porcelain shards

Postcard

Pot lid

Pot sponge

Pregnancy test

Price tag

Pringles tube

Protective covering paper

Protein powder

Pubic hair

Pumice stone

PVC material

Rabbit cage

Rabbit droppings

Rainwear

Razor

Razor blade

Receipt

Record sleeve

Reflective band

Removable adhesive putty

Resistance band

Riding helmet

Roll-on deodorant

Roller blind

Rope

Rotten wood

Rubber band

Rubber boots

Rubber eraser

Rubber glove

Rubber sole

Ruler

Rye bread bag clip

Salmon packaging

Salt grinder

Sandpaper

Sanitary pad

Sanitary towel

Sausage casing

Sausage packaging

Sawdust

Scented candle

Scouring sponge

Scratch card

Scratch-off Christmas calendar

Semen

Senseo coffee pad

Sewing thread

Sex toy without batteries

Sheep wool

Shin guard

Shoe insole

Shoe sole

Shotgun cartridge

Silica gel

Silicone

Silicone baking mould

Silk ribbon

Skyr tub

Sleeping mat

Slime toy

Slug

Smoking pipe

Snail

Snowsuit

Soap

Soap container

Soap flakes

Soft plastic packaging

Soft soap

Soft toy

Soot

Sparkler

Spiral-bound yearly calendar

Squeegee

Steel wool

Sticker

Stoma bag

Stones

Store receipt

Straw hat

Strawberry tray

Stress ball

String

Stuffed toy

Styrofoam

Suction cup

Sugar bag

Sunglasses

Sunscreen

Surfboard

Swab stick

Sweepings

Sweet wrapper

Table firework

Table tennis ball

Takeaway food box

Talcum powder

Tampon

Tape

Tarpaulin

Tealight

Tennis ball

Test strips

Thai food carton

Thermal mug

Thermal paper

Thermos flask

Tinsel

Tissue

Tobacco

Tobacco pipe

Toilet block

Toilet brush

Toilet paper

Toilet roll tube

Tooth

Toothbrush

Toothbrush head

Toothpaste

Toothpaste tube

Toothpick

Toy shaker

Trading card

Travel card

Twine

Urine bag

Vacuum cleaner bag

Vacuum cleaner filter

Velcro

Velcro strip

VHS cassette

VHS tape

Video tape

Vinyl glove

Vinyl LP

Vinyl record

Vitamin tablet

Vomit

Wall-to-wall carpet

Wallpaper

Washcloth

Washing powder in cardboard packaging

Waste sack

Watch strap

Water filter

Water-repellent jacket

Water-repellent textile

Wet cardboard

Wet clothes

Wet paper

Wet wipe

Wet-strength paper

Wild oat

Windscreen wiper

Wine carton

Wine gum sweets

Wine pouch

Wood chips

Wood fibre board

Wood shavings

Wood wool

Wooden crate

Wooden cutlery

Wooden cutting board

Wooden toothpick

Yoga mat

Zinc ointment

Ziplock bag

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