Products subject to the recycling fee

The recycling fee is imposed on a number of product categories.

Packaging: Includes cardboard, paper and plastic. The collection of transport packaging, i.e. corrugated cardboard and plastic film, starts on 1 April 2005, and the collection of sales packaging on 1 March 2006. A packaging collection system will be organised for such packaging in the same manner as previously occurred for tyres and plastic hay bale wrap.
(A recycling fee will be placed on single-use drink containers at the latest by 1 January 2008, regardless of whether they are made of metal, glass, plastic or laminated paperboard. Until then, a return fee programme applies to single-use drink containers made of metal, glass or plastic but not to laminated paperboard containers, which are most common for milk products.

Plastic hay bale wrap: Accumulates in considerable quantities among Icelandic farmers. A collection programme has been organised for farmers to maximise the return rate to waste recovery.

Tyres: Some 5,000-6,000 tonnes of tyres are imported to Iceland each year. A specific collection programme has been organised to ensure their collection and recovery or disposal.

Vehicles: A recycling fee is levied on every vehicle, for a maximum of fifteen years. When the vehicle is scrapped and turned in at a collection point, the owner has the right to a return fee, in the amount of ISK 15,000, although vehicles registered before 1980 do not fall under this programme.

Hazardous substances: Many types of goods and substances are subject to a recycling fee, including refrigerants, chlorinated compounds, mercury products, organic solvents, photographic materials, paints, pigments, petroleum products, and car and other batteries. Hazardous substances are estimated to comprise about 4% of all waste, with the greatest accumulation of waste oil, vehicle batteries, developing chemicals and leftover oil-based paints.

Fishing gear made of synthetics: Due to Iceland's large fleet of fishing ships, a great quantity of fishing gear is discarded. As of 1 September 2005, a recycling fee will be imposed on fishing gear made of synthetics, unless prior to then the interested parties have agreed on their own collection programme.