Be Proud of Every Flush When Living the Dream in Helsingborg.

Be Proud of Every Flush
When Living the Dream in Helsingborg.

A unique waste system in the new dockland homes of this Swedish city
is turning residents into environmental heroes.

Helsingborg, a mid-sized city in southern Sweden, has its sights set on becoming one of Europe’s most innovative cities. But aiming high sometimes means rolling up your sleeves and getting your hands dirty. But don’t worry. All you have to do as a new resident of Oceanhamnen is sit on your balcony and enjoy the glistening sea view. Working for a greener city has never felt so easy.

Every home in this newly built central city district is being fitted with an innovative waste separation system with three pipes; one pipe for ground food waste, one pipe for baths, dishwashing, and washing machines, and one vacuum pipe for toilets. That’s right, a vacuum toilet. Not as terrifying as it sounds. Business as usual then.

“It feels great to be making a difference by just going about your day as normal.
The kitchen sink and the toilet remind you that smarter things are going on under the surface.”

Pernilla Möller, one of the first residents of Oceanhamnen

NEWS & PRESS

PRESS CONTACT

Maria Ploberg

maria.ploberg@helsingborg.se

POSTAL ADDRESS

Hbg Works
Drottninggatan 14
252 21 Helsingborg
Sverige

The overall goal of the system is to collect and use the waste as raw material to produce biogas and plant nutrients, helping reach the city’s environmental targets and making the world that bit greener.

Each pipe has a part to play of course. A waste disposal unit in your kitchen sink sends food waste straight to the treatment plant – pure waste, no transport, no problem. The washing water pipe with “grey water” allows residual heat to loop back and help warm your home when there’s a chill in the air. And the vacuum pipe means more concentrated toilet waste, less emissions in the treatment, and an increased circulation of nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen back to the soil for growing food.

Imagine. With every flush, you play a valuable part in the nutrient cycle. Not everyone can say that, can they?

As you watch the sun set over the water from your balcony, with the lights of Copenhagen twinkling in the distance, the red glow is reflected in the curved glass facade of Reco Lab, a symbol of the changing face of Helsingborg on the water’s edge. This will be the new destination for the three pipes and a test bed for seeing what other value can be extracted from household waste.

“It’s about circular thinking. We aim to purify grey water so that it’s drinking-water quality and can be delivered directly back to the city. We’ll be recovering nutrients for fertiliser pellets, perfect to use in agriculture or for the flowers or herbs on the balcony. And we also hope to use grey water to fill a fantastic outdoor pool we’re building by the water!”

Amanda Haux, Business Developer at NSVA and the Reco Lab project

It just goes to show, you don’t need to compromise on luxury to ensure a bright future, you just have to try looking at things a little differently. And the view from here looks pretty good.

The City of Helsingborg has launched a major innovation initiative called H22. Through collaborations across society, solutions that improve quality of life in smarter, more sustainable cities are being explored together. Why not browse the rest of H22’s website for ongoing projects and news on H22 City Expo in 2022, or click here to learn more about Reco Lab.