Naturally the release for carbon dioxide and other gases from the power plants are carefully monitored and controlled so the burning of garbage doesn't contribute to the increase of green hose gases in the atmosphere.
The long distance transport of this noxious cargo on ships and trucks have its environmental consequences though. The good folk of Västerås, 80, km west of Stockholm, can attest to this when ships of well travelled garbage arrived in the harbour in the centre of the town. The cargo was destined for the local power plant but a spell of unseasonally warm weather earlier this year resulted in an unpleasant smell developing.
It has been suggested that the garbage handling proficiency of the Swedes has had the effect of stifling the development of similar systems in neighbouring countries.
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One such example is Norway that last year exported half of its garbage to Sweden. Innovation in garbage handling in Norway is being held back by the low price that the efficient Swedes are charging for the service they provide it has been noted by Norwegian commentators.
It is a bit ironic that an oil producing nation like Norway is exporting an alternative source of energy to Sweden and paying for the Swedes to accept it.
It has been estimated that 3 metric tonnes of garbage exported from Norway corresponds to 1 metric tonnes of oil in energy content.
But of course what the Norwegians are paying for is the energy conversion process technology that the Swedes have developed.
In this instance the old saying holds true, a Norwegian's trash is indeed a Swede's treasure.
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