Malmö Smart Start Guide

• Explore all links on the Smart Map food-related.
• Bring a meal to campus – the University buildings all have kitchen units where students can warm food.
• Plan your meals weekly and use a shopping list to save money and time.
• Serve smaller portions to avoid waste.
• Only brew as much coffee as you’ll drink. Leftovers? Freeze into ice cubes for iced coffee.
• Freeze leftovers or extra ingredients, most foods can be frozen.
• "Best before" doesn’t always mean "bad after" – use your senses before binning it.
• Dedicate a fridge shelf for food that needs to be eaten soon.
• Eating out? Ask for a doggy bag to take home your leftovers.

• Choose short-dated items in shops if you plan to use them quickly.
• Join food rescue initiatives like Rude Food or Svinnbruket.
• Use apps like Too Good To Go and Karma to buy surplus food cheaply.
• Make broth from vegetable scraps or seafood trimmings.
• Shop for vegetables at the market just before closing, for great deals and reduced waste.
• Learn how to ferment and preserve food as an alternative to freezing.
• Join Malmö People’s Kitchen (Folkets Kök) and help them cook and serve free meals as a volunteer.

Food waste 

Please use the brown paper bags, which can be collected from the recycling building outside your residence or recycling point. For example: fruit and vegetable peels, eggshells, seafood leftovers, coffee, tea bags, and kitchen paper. 

Paper packaging 

All smaller cardboard packaging, both hard and soft: please remember to flatten the pack. For example: milk packaging, egg cartons, corrugated cardboard, wrapping paper. 

Plastic packaging 

All smaller plastic packaging, both in hard and soft plastic: please ensure you rinse all plastic before it is recycled. For example: plastic bags, plastic bottles without a refund, bag-in-box bags, chips bags, styrofoam, medicine blister packs. 

Glass packaging 

Glass bottles and jars are sorted as either clear or coloured glass. Please drain all liquids, remove lids and rinse first before recycling. For example: wine bottles, spices jars, jam jars.

Metal 

All metal packaging, both hard and soft: please rinse all holders before recycling. For example: cans without a refund, tubes, caps, aluminium foil.

General/Residual waste  

Unfortunately, all waste can’t be sorted. For example: chewing gum, envelopes, post-it notes, broken drinking glasses or ceramics, condoms, sanitary towels. 

Grease 

Cooking oil must not be poured into the sink since this will cause the pipes to clog. Instead, let it cool and pour it back into a plastic container.

Sorting guide (vasyd.se)

Recycling in Malmö has developed steadily since the 1970s, establishing the city as a frontrunner in sustainable waste management. In 1973, the SYSAV waste-to-energy plant was launched, converting household waste into district heating and electricity. The Augustenborg district became a model for sustainable living, introducing local composting and, in 2008, piloting food waste separation for biogas production. This system was later rolled out across the city.

By 2014, it became mandatory for all households in Malmö to sort food waste, which is now used to produce biogas that powers buses and waste collection vehicles. The city has also taken steps to reduce construction waste through the reuse of building materials, aligning with circular economy principles. Malmö encourages residents to separate waste at source, and recycling stations are easily accessible across neighbourhoods. Schools and public campaigns have played a key role in raising awareness and fostering a culture of sustainability. The city also collaborates with local businesses to promote low-waste solutions and innovation. Today, Malmö continues to refine its recycling systems as part of its broader commitment to environmental responsibility and climate neutrality.

You can find a short explanation of the thinking behind it all on the Malmö city website.

Circular economy (malmo.se)