Sweden approaches waste management not merely as a “garbage collection” activity, but as an integral component of the circular economy. One of the most compelling examples of this approach is the management of waste lubricating oils. Ragn-Sells, one of the country’s leading environmental services companies, has been collecting and processing approximately 40,000 tons of waste oil annually from industrial facilities, ports, and automotive workshops since 2005. These oils undergo a three-stage advanced purification process in modern facilities, where they are thoroughly separated from water, sludge, and contaminants, and are then re-refined into base oils with a recovery rate of 75–95%.
As a result, the need for petroleum refining is reduced, and greenhouse gas emissions are significantly lowered. The regenerated base oils are of comparable quality to those derived from crude oil, making them reliably usable across industrial applications. This practice directly contributes to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 12.2 (Ensuring sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources by 2030), SDG 12.4 (Achieving environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle by 2020, in accordance with agreed international frameworks, and significantly reducing their release to air, water, and soil to minimize adverse impacts on human health and the environment), and SDG 12.5 (Substantially reducing waste generation by 2030 through prevention, reduction, recycling, and reuse).
Another noteworthy aspect of the model is the recovery of waste oil filters. Each year, Ragn-Sells collects over 1,000 tons of oil filters from cars, trucks, and commercial vehicles, separating them into three components: 50% metal, 35% filter paper, and 15% residual oil. The recovered metals are reprocessed into raw materials at recycling facilities, while the residual oils are refined and reclaimed as base oils. In this way, not only the waste oils but also the metals and paper contained in the filters are reintegrated into the circular economy, significantly reducing overall waste generation.
In Sweden, not only Ragn-Sells but also companies such as Stena Recycling and Svensk Oljeåtervinning are part of this process. At Stena Recycling’s facility in Halmstad, waste oils are processed and converted into fuel oil, while Svensk Oljeåtervinning has an annual production capacity of 35,000 tons of fuel oil from waste oil. Thanks to these actors, a high recovery rate is achieved nationwide.
In conclusion, Sweden’s waste oil collection and processing system is both comprehensive and robust. With Ragn-Sells’ annual collection capacity of 40,000 tons, Stena Recycling’s fuel oil production in Halmstad, and Svensk Oljeåtervinning’s processing capacity of 35,000 tons per year, the country achieves a high nationwide recovery rate. This system enables the reintegration of waste oils into the economy without harming the environment, contributes to energy savings, and helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Sweden’s approach stands out for its emphasis on producer responsibility and operational transparency.
However, current data does not provide a clear picture of how much of the collected waste oil is reprocessed within Sweden’s borders. This highlights the need for more comprehensive reporting and the development of nationwide traceability systems in the future. Such a step would enable more accurate monitoring of recovery rates and make the contribution to the circular economy more measurable.
