Taking the tools to task: Deep analysis and implementation of strategies to reduce residual- and food waste in the public sector

The Gothenburg Region has spent the last eight years as a leader and member of many different projects for reducing municipal residual- and food waste.

This project consolidates the learnings from these separate efforts with the goal of identifying the most effective measures for continued waste reduction, and with input from these municipalities seeks to create a flexible and customizable framework for continued waste reduction both within and outside of Gothenburg.Established analytical and psychological methodologies inform the design of these plans.

Use of an existing taxonomy will pinpoint the mechanisms underlying how behavioral change can be encouraged, while the work plans will be rooted in popular scientific theories of organizational psychology.

With the national goals of waste reduction in mind, this project will work to distribute these work plans nationwide and to facilitate communication and cooperation between municipalities with, for example, similar motivational or hindrance profiles.It is estimated that about 778 million SEK per year and 63 million kg of CO2e per year could be saved if all preschools, primary schools and nursing homes in Sweden were to become “resource-smart” and reduce their residual waste and food waste in line with the pilot projects – this project paves the way for this to be possible.