Thrifty bin for mixed waste

All homes in Reykjavík have gray waste bins for mixed household waste. A thrifty bin is 120-liters in size, so it is both smaller and cheaper than a gray bin.

Order a bin

How much does the thrifty bin cost?

What can go in the thrifty bin?

Materials for methane production

Mixed waste

  • Food leftovers
  • Food contaminated packaging
  • Composite packaging
  • Vacuum cleaner bags
  • Disposable diapers

Loose metals

  • Food cans
  • Tea light cups
  • Aluminum trays and lids
  • Note that metals may also be returned to recycling centers, in which case a higher percentage goes to recycling

What can NOT go in the thrifty bin?

  • Recyclable paper or cardboard
  • Refundable beverage containers
  • Garden waste, earth material or stones
  • Batteries
  • Toxic waste, medicines, or other hazardous waste
  • Timber, fragment metal, plaster battering, or other coarse waste

Why is metal not sorted?

You can sort metals from the mixed household waste that will otherwise go in the gray bin if residents want to ensure that all their waste metal is recycled. Residents can return the metals to the nearest recycling center, six of which are in the capital area. This method achieves the best results in terms of sorting metals.

SORPA uses machines at the company's reception and sorting plant in Gufunes to sort metals deposited in gray bins and thrifty bins for mixed household waste. It is estimated that up to 60% of all metal is captured from the waste using this method. More can be achieved if residents place all loose metal in the bins. The machines sort both magnetic metal (such as food cans) and non-magnetic metal (such as aluminum foil) from the mixed waste after it has been chopped.

Q&A

What can go in the gray bin and thrifty bin?

Gray bins (including the thrifty bin) are for mixed household waste. Examples for mixed household waste:

  • Vacuum cleaner bags
  • Disposable diapers
  • Disposable sanitary pads
  • Wet wipes

What cannot go in the gray bin:

  • Food leftovers
  • Recyclable paper or cardboard
  • Textiles
  • Refundable beverage containers
  • Garden waste
  • Masonry fragmentation
  • Minerals
  • Coarse waste, such as timber and scrap metals
  • Electrical equipment
  • Batteries
  • Toxic waste
  • Medicines

Do I need to order a gray bin or a thrifty bin?

Residents must have access to a bin for mixed waste at their home.

The gray bin is designed to hold up to 240 liters of mixed waste, but single-family households with smaller amounts of waste may opt for the 120 liter thrifty bin, which is more cost-effective than the gray bin.

Residents of multi-family housing may request a 660 liter container, if conditions allow.

How much does the gray bin cost?

For pricing information on gray bins and thrifty bins, please refer to the Waste Collection Fees.

These fees are included with property taxes, and in Reykjavík they vary based on the number of bins, container size, collection rate, distance to unload the container, and the type of waste. The fees will be updated the same week a request to change the bins is made.

How many times a month are gray bins and thrifty bins emptied?

Gray bins and thrifty bins are generally collected every 14 days.

You can check the waste collection calendarto find out when your waste will be collected. This calendar is organized by City district.