SORPA’s Receiving Plant at Gufunes

SORPA’s Receiving Plant handles solid waste from homes, businesses and industries in the Capital Area. Compressible solid waste goes through compacting devices, which decrease the volume by 70%. The process renders tied-up stacks, bales, to be transported some 20 km to the landfill site at Álfsnes, northeast of Reykjavík.

Corrugated cardboard and waste paper (mostly printed material) are exported in compressed stacks to Sweden where the material is recycled. Wood is shredded and sent to the ferro-silicon (iron alloy) plant at Grundartangi, about 50 km NE of Reykjavík, where it makes an excellent source of carbon for the production process. This successful method of carbon production for a ferro-silicon smelter is unique in the world. Scrap metal is brought to the scrap metal firm Fura, which, in turn, exports the material to markets abroad. 

The municipalities run a well-organized waste collecting service. The waste is brought to SORPA’s Receiving Plant from each part of the service area every week or two. Many larger firms and institutions organize the delivery of their solid waste themselves.

The public is not compelled by law to sort or classify solid waste, except for hazardous waste. In fact, each municipality sets its own rules regarding the collection and disposal of solid waste. In the Capital Area, the governments encourage the public to deliver sorted, solid waste to special SORPA recycling centres located throughout the service area. They are open to individuals as well as small firms and institutions.

Open:

• Mon. - Fri. 7:30 - 17:00