With increasing volumes as well as types of waste which are recycled, the pressure and need of employees at recycling centres is likely to increase. It’s been reported that employees within the recycling line of business are at greater risk of experiencing workplace related accidents or illness compared to the total workforce in Sweden. Good working conditions are necessary for workers to maintain good health and contribute to a sustainable society, both economically and regards to public health. The aim of the study was to identify today’s most pronounced workplace issues at recycling centres in Sweden. The study was designed with the intention to acquire knowledge of the ways those issues were resolved as well as what else would’ve been required to create a better work environment. The study was conducted using a web survey that was sent to 120 Swedish recycling centres randomly selected. 48 recycling centres took part of the survey. For the majority of those who responded the main workplace issues were traffic, threats/violence, risk of falling or getting crushed or handling of hazardous chemical waste. Some good examples of how to reach a better work environment were presented. Remodelling of the layout or building a new recycling centre was the most required way to proceed to improve the working conditions. Also better cooperation between co-workers as well as between recycling centres in different areas of Sweden was suggested.

In Sweden´s society today, there is a considerably amount of invisible waste in circulation that may contain mercury, such as electrical waste. In a typical garbagebag half of the content counts as hazardous waste that ends up in combustion. There have been changes in regulation surrounding mercury in recent years from EU, yet mercury is still notable in waste incineration. The aim of this study was to identify efficient management of waste containing mercury, in the waste chain with recycling centres and companies in focus. For instance, if inadequate routines can be identified, how could those be improved to prevent waste containing mercury being combusted. Emission data were retreived from environmental reports and the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency. In addition a questionnarie was sent to recycling centres and companies handling waste. A positive correlation between emissions data of mercury and waste quantites were found, the mercury emission was not affected by imported waste or waste included hazardous waste. The result of the questionnarie survey, demonstrated most of the respondents work with collecting waste by the right terms. The majority of respondents thought that their waste management was very good. Although, some indications showed that more communication is needed to spread knowledge surrounding mercury. It is rather the amount of waste that determines the percentage of mercury. More profound research in the area is needed to draw a solid conclusion about why mercury still occurs in combustion.