From Sorting Trash to Saving Cash
The Practical Guide to Green Living in Denmark
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Sustainability in Denmark often hides in plain sight. You might already be doing small things that are better for your wallet, your health or the environment without even thinking about it. In this newsletter, I break down how to make the most of Denmark’s second-hand system, how the waste sorting works across municipalities, and how to decode some of the labels and icons on product packaging. Whether it's reusing, recycling, or choosing safer products, these everyday habits can quietly add up to something impactful.
Some links in this article provide information in Danish, as no English version is available. Danish links are marked in grey. Don't forget that website translation is expat’s best friend.
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Second-hand culture
Denmark has a strong second-hand culture that goes far beyond saving money. It’s part of daily life and embraced by people of all ages and incomes. Buying second-hand is an easy way to live more sustainably, find something unique, and stretch your budget. For parents, it's especially practical since kids outgrow clothes quickly, and there is less pressure to keep everything spotless. There are many ways to circulate your stuff in Denmark, so here are the most common ones.
Thrift stores
Thrift stores in Denmark are often warm and welcoming, especially those run by charities and volunteers. The items come from locals, not distant warehouses. You too can pack up things you no longer use – jeans that don’t fit or a chair that doesn’t suit your space, and bring them to the shop. Even in smaller stores you can make great finds. I once bought a full HD monitor for 100 kr. Isn’t that a steal?
The best thrift stores are often tucked away in the outskirts of big cities or in smaller towns. I always make a point to visit one when travelling around Denmark, as it’s a great way to chat with locals, who I find especially friendly in Jylland. I also pick up practical “souvenirs.” When I wear a dress I found in Odense or drink tea from a floral cup I bought in Skagen, I’m reminded of the lovely trips I’ve had.
Online space
If you’re looking for something specific or think your stuff deserves a chance to be sold, try DBA (Den Blå Avis, or The Blue Newspaper) – Denmark’s go-to online marketplace. Here, you can find anything you want. Before buying new, I usually check if anyone’s selling the same near-new furniture for half the price. And most of the time, you're picking things up from someone just a few streets away, and the exchange often turns into a quick, friendly chat. Facebook Marketplace and Vinted are popular options too.
You can also get or give stuff for free on Facebook groups, here are some in the bigger cities: Copenhagen, Aarhus, Odense, Aalborg, Esbjerg.
Tip: Enter “free stuff/gratis ting [your city]” in Facebook search, if your city is not mentioned.
Selling physically
In residential neighborhoods, it is common to see boxes or items placed by the street with a note saying “gratis” (free) or offering them for a small MobilePay payment. Children sometimes sell toys outside their homes to earn a bit of pocket money and to free up space for new toys. Furniture is often put out for storskrald (bulk trash collection), but usually the furniture is gone before the municipality has a chance to pick it up.
And lastly, flea markets. Charming, local, and full of character. These markets pop up in parks, schoolyards and city squares once the weather warms up, and they’re just as much about the atmosphere as they are about what you take home. You can find anything from second-hand clothes and handmade crafts to odd collections like vintage street signs. It’s a great way to spend a weekend morning and discover something unexpected.
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Sorting
Even though 9 sorting bins at home feels cumbersome, it has a great environmental impact. In 2022, Denmark recycled or prepared for reuse nearly 50% of municipal waste (Environmental Protection Agency under the Ministry of Environment and Gender Equality), meaning that these materials are recycled, turned into biogas or compost, and fewer resources are wasted. For example, some busses in Copenhagen run on the collected food waste.
The national rules require households to sort waste into nine categories: food, paper, cardboard, glass, metal, plastic, food and drink cartons, hazardous waste, and residual waste. While each municipality manages its own setup, the sorting categories are the same across the country (Environmental Protection Agency under the Ministry of Environment and Gender Equality).
There are a few things in place to make it easier. When you move into a new home, you’ll often receive a flyer explaining local sorting rules. More and more packaging comes with small icons to show how to sort it. Some municipalities, like Copenhagen, Aalborg, and Esbjerg, offer free bags for food waste. In apartment buildings, these bags can often be picked up near the sorting area. In houses, you tie the last bag to your bin handle, and new ones are delivered with the next collection. You can also get them at libraries or recycling centres. In Copenhagen you can order a “moving kit” that makes sorting things easier upon moving.
There are some small local differences, especially with tricky items like greasy pizza boxes. In most places, they go into residual waste, but Copenhagen recently started accepting them as cardboard. If you’re ever in doubt, head to borger.dk and choose your municipality under the waste section. You’ll find guides, calendars, and info on what extras you can order.
Most municipalities also run genbrugsstationer (recycling centres) for things that don’t go in your regular bins, such as electronics, ceramics, garden waste, or old furniture. In cities like Copenhagen, Aarhus, and Esbjerg, you’ll often find reuse corners at these stations, where people drop off still-usable items like furniture, toys, clothes, or books. You’re free to take what you like. I, for example, have gotten some cute terra cotta pots for my plants.
If you live in smaller city, Google “genbrugscenter [your city]”.
| | Most common sorting pictograms
📸 Affaldspiktogramer | |
Upcycling and repairs
There is also a rising interest in repairs and upcycling. There is, for example, a volunteer-driven organisation Repair Café Danmark that organises regular meet ups all around Danish libraries to help you fix your things, and you don’t have to pay for the labour. Libraries also sometimes organise all types of DIY events, where you can meet up with others and fix your things. There are no volunteers to do it for you, but you might get help from a fellow attendee. Keep an eye on your local library’s events to know when the next workshop is coming.
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Pant
In almost every Danish household, you’ll find a tucked away bag full of empty bottles and cans. It might hang behind the kitchen door or sit in a corner, waiting for its next trip to the supermarket. This is all part of pant – the Danish deposit system – and once you get into the rhythm, it feels strange not to do it.
If you’ve noticed the “P” in a circle on your bottles and cans, that’s your sign. When you buy a drink, you pay a small deposit, usually between 1 and 3 kroner depending on the size. When you return the empty bottle or can to a reverse vending machine at the supermarket, you get a printed receipt showing how much you’re getting back. You can use that amount toward your next grocery shop or donate it directly to a charity if the machine offers that option.
This system makes a real impact. In 2024, more than 93% of all pant-marked bottles and cans in Denmark were returned and recycled (Dansk Retursystem). It’s a small habit, but one that keeps a huge amount of waste out of landfills and nature.
| 📸 "Pant" symbol on the bottle | |
Food and sustainability
Labelling
Sustainability shows up in many small choices around food in Denmark. One of the most visible examples is the Øko-mærke (Eco-label), the red Ø label you’ll see on organic products. This is Denmark’s official organic certification and it guarantees high standards for pesticide use, fertilizers, and animal welfare (Danish Veterinary and Food Administration). You’ll find organic options even in discount supermarkets, and consumers frequently choose both organics and conventional goods in the same shop. In fact, Denmark leads the world in organic market share: in 2023, organic foods made up 11.8% of all retail food sales, and about 65% of Danes bought organic food weekly (Organic Denmark). There is also a focus on seasonal eating. You notice it when strawberries suddenly take over the shelves in summer, or when apples and root vegetables fill up the markets in autumn.
Official dietary recommendations
The official dietary guidelines also reflect this focus on sustainability. The Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries encourages people to eat less meat and more vegetables, legumes, and whole grains (Danish Veterinary and Food Administration, under The Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries). It is not just about climate impact, but also health. Many canteens, public and private, try to incorporate the recommendations into their meals. It makes it easier to choose plant-based dishes without feeling like you are making a big statement.
Food waste
Finally, there’s a strong emphasis on reducing food waste. Many supermarkets offer discounts on items that are close to their best-before date, especially pastries, fruit, and vegetables. Some even give away products that would otherwise be thrown out. Community fridges and local food-sharing initiatives pop up, although they often depend on volunteers and can be short-lived. Apps like Too Good To Go make it easy to rescue surplus meals or groceries at a low price, if you have some culinary creativity.
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Cycling and public transport
Many people choose bikes or public transport because it simply works well for daily life. In cities bikes are often the quickest and cheapest way to get around. I bought mine for 1000kr on Facebook Marketplace 4 years ago, and still is my best friend. You will see people in all walks of life using the bikes: parents with kids on cargo bikes, students heading to class, or people cycling to work in their everyday clothes, and don’t get too self-concsious if a grandma bikes faster than you.
Public transport is also a key part of getting from place to place. Trains, trams, metro, and buses are well connected in the cities, and on longer trips it is common to see people working, reading, or just enjoying the ride – why sit in a traffic jam behind a wheel if you can sit back, and do something else?
Cars still have their place, especially in parts of Jylland where distances are greater or where buses and trains do not run as often. In these areas, a car can simply be the most practical choice. Rarely is car a status symbol in Denmark, which can also be related to Janteloven.
If you’d like to read more about the biking culture, check out our previous newsletter: Why do Danes bike?
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Everyday products with a green twist
Sustainability in Denmark also shows up in the products people use at home. It’s common to find perfume-free and eco-labelled items like shampoo, hand soap, laundry detergent, and dish soap in regular supermarkets. These are not only better for the environment but also for your health: many people choose them to avoid unnecessary chemicals or allergens.
One label to look for is the Svanemærket (Nordic Swan), which sets strict requirements for both environmental impact and human health. You’ll also often see the Asthma-Allergy label on personal care products. Together, they make it easier to choose products that are both low-impact and gentle on the skin.
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📸 Labels on products. The green one is Svanemærke,
the bright blue with a bird in the middle is Asthma-Allergy label
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May the sun shine for a little longer,
Justina from Expat in Denmark
P.S. Do you have a fun story, a cool tip or questions about life in Denmark? We'd love to hear from you! Drop us a line at jusr@di.dk.
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