Information in English

Below you can read the letter that have been sent out to all owners of holiday homes.

To all owners of holiday homes

We are writing to you to inform that, you as an owner of a holiday home, will sort your waste in nine different waste types from October 2023.

The climate plan for a green waste sector and circular economy

In 2020, a majority in parliament entered into the agreement “Klimaplan for en grøn affaldssektor og cirkulær Økonomi”. The plan for a green waste sector puts new demands on the waste sector, including household collection of ten waste types and requirement of common national symbols, which shall help us all with correct sorting. This means, that all must sort waste in ten different types, which shall be recycled or utilised. The new requirements will reduce CO2 emissions for the benefit of the climate.

The holiday homes new collection scheme includes nine of the ten waste types

In the areas for holiday homes will the current collection scheme of waste be supplemented with collection of bio waste, glass, metal, small cardboard, plastic, food- & beverage cartons and textile waste. A total of nine waste types. The tenth waste type is hazardous waste. When it concerns holiday homes, hazardous waste must still be delivered to the recycling station.

The new standard solution for your holiday home looks like this:

• New 240 litre two-room bin for bio waste (small room – 96 litre) and residual waste (big room – 144 litre). Emptied every two weeks
• New 240 litre two-room bin for glass/metal (small room – 96 litre) and paper/small cardboard (big room – 144 litre). Emptied every four weeks
• 240 litre plastic sack for plastic and food- & beverage cartons. Collected every four weeks. (The plastic sack can also be handed in at the recycling stations)
• Textile waste. Collected by ordering via ‘REFA Selvbetjening’. (Textile waste can also be delivered at the recycling stations)

The price for the new standard solution is DKK 3,660, – per year.

Possibility for additional purchase of more frequent collection or more bins

If you wish for more frequent collection of your two-room bins for residual- and bio waste, one bin for plastic and food- & beverage cartons, or more or bigger bins to, for example, residual waste or paper/cardboard, you can see more about the possibilities for additional purchase at https://www.refa.dk/indsamlingsordning/priser/tillaegspriser/.

At the address of your holiday home, you will receive:

• New 240 litre two-room bin for residual waste and bio waste.
• Lunch basket for kitchen and indoor use with appertaining green bags for your bio waste.
• New 240 litre two-room bin for glass/metal and paper/small cardboard.
• Roll with 240 litre see through plastic sacks with handles, for collection of plastic and food- & beverage cartons.
• A sorting instruction, so you can see how your waste shall be sorted.

What is going to happen with the current bins or stands for residual waste?

When the bin for residual waste has been emptied for the last time, and the new two-room bins is to be used, the waste collector will put a sticker on the old bin- or stand – with the message that it no longer will be emptied.

Put a cross in ‘REFA Selvbetjening’ if you are going to use the old bin yourself

If you wish to keep your old bin or stand for other purposes, for example, storage of the sacks for plastic and food- & beverage cartons, you must no later than 1 October 2023 select it in ‘REFA Selvbetjening’. If you do not, we will come and get it and send it to recycling or reuse.

When are the new collection scheme going to be implemented?

The new collection scheme for holiday homes will be implemented from the end of October 2023. It is later than single-family households, apartment buildings, institutions and businesses. This is out of respect for the peak season – and to give the areas with holiday homes time to find the best solutions in their exact area. The alternative to the standard solution is collection points.

REFA must be informed if an area wishes for collection points, on 15 August 2023 at the latest

We are aware that the new legal requirements for household collection in the areas of holiday homes, can give challenges to the owners of holiday homes and homeowners’ associations. This is especially regarding roads and means of access.

Collection points are a joint solution and require a good location

The Ministry of Environment of Denmark’s guideline for Danish Statutory Order on Waste give the opportunity, to replace household collection with so-called collection points, where the residents of holiday homes can sort their household waste. The requirement for a joint solution is, that the collection point is within a reasonable walking distance of the holiday home. It is also a requirement that the collection point cover eight of the nine waste types. Textile waste is exempted.

REFA is open to the installation of collection points, if the owners of holiday homes in the homeowners’ association agree of a joint solution and a location for the collection point, which meet the current legal requirements.

The price for an ordinary holiday home connected to a collection point is DKK 2,949, -. This price is set on the basis of a joint solution with participation of 33-50 holiday homes within reasonable walking distance.

Pros and cons of household collection and collection points within reasonable walking distance:

Standard solution (household collection):

Collection points (joint solution):

What does the new standard solution look like?

You can see the new standard solution, which are set up at all recycling stations. We will also attach an illustration with measurements of the different bins.

Rules for waste management

There are regulations passed for household waste in both Lolland- and Guldborgsund municipality, which REFA work by and which the households must follow. The rules are, among others, there to secure that waste are treated correct and that the waste collectors work conditions are in order. If the rules are not upheld, you can risk that your waste bin will not be emptied.

For example, it is important that your bin can be transported to the curb on a firm foundation – otherwise you must transport it to the curb yourself when it is to be emptied. Read more about the requirements on https://www.refa.dk/indsamlingsordning/indsamling-af-affald/adgangsforhold/.

Waste pictographs delivered to the door

The nine waste types each have their own symbol – also called a pictograph – which are used in connection with waste sorting. That is why there will be symbols on your bins. The new two-room bins will be delivered with the pictographs for bio waste and residual waste – and glass/metal and paper/cardboard. There will also be pictographs on the sacks for plastic and food- & beverage cartons. The whole idea of national pictographs is, that we will meet the same symbols no matter where we go, to make waste sorting easier in our everyday lives.

Use the many tools and make your sorting easier

Together with the new bins you will also get sorting instructions and more tools, which will make it easier to sort. Visit the new waste universe at www.refa.dk and read more about the ten waste types and the appertaining symbols. You will also find a new online sorting instruction and good tips and tricks to sorting and arrangement in your home.

Download the sorting app Perfect Waste

Follow on all platforms and keep yourself updated

Best regards
REFA

* If you rent out your holiday home, it is important that you let your renters know about the contents of this letter.

** REFA will also inform the homeowners’ associations of the areas with holiday homes, of the new collection schemes.