The business model of solid waste management in Sweden – a case study of two municipally-owned companies

• Published in: Waste management & research Vol. 30; no. 5; pp. 512 - 518
• Main Authors: Corvellec, Hervé, Bramryd, Torleif, Hultman, Johan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01-05-2012; Sage Publications Ltd
• Subjects: Annan samhällsvetenskap; business model; Business models; Comparative studies; European; Legislation; Models, Organizational; Municipal solid waste; Other Social Sciences; Ownership; Refuse Disposal; Samhällsvetenskap; Social Sciences; Social Sciences Interdisciplinary; Sweden; Tvärvetenskapliga studier inom samhällsvetenskap; value creation; Waste Management; Waste management industry; Sweden; Sweden; business model; European legislation; value creation; Municipal solid waste
• ISSN: 0734-242X; 1096-3669; 1096-3669
• DOI: 10.1177/0734242X11427944

This paper describes the business model of municipally-owned MSW (municipal solid waste) companies in Sweden. A comparative study of two of these companies shows that they combine three types of activities: public service activities that collect solid waste from households, commercial establishments, and industry; processing activities that transform this waste; and marketing activities that enable products and recycled material to re-enter the economy. The historical success of the two companies rests on their ability to create value by combining these three distinct yet mutually dependent types of activities. However, an ongoing legal controversy may develop into a threat to this business model and to the entire organization of Swedish waste management.