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Kristine managed to fit 18 months worth of trash into a single jam jar

On average, Norwegians throw away more than 400 kilos of trash every year. But people some try to throw away as little as possible.

Have you ever thought about how much garbage you throw away? Everything from shampoo bottles to banana peels ends up in the trash. But some people barely generate any trash at all!

(Photo: Private)

Ruth Kidane Youth journalist

Ingrid Schou journalist

Published 23 February 2025 - 00:01

Have you ever thought about how much you throw away?

Everything from shampoo bottles to banana peels ends up in the trash.

But some people hardly create any waste at all!

Sciencenorway.no has met one of them.

“The most important thing is that it's fun,” she says.

Kristine Ullaland loves the waste-free life. “It forces me to think creatively,” she says.

Plenty of space – in a jam jar

Kristine Ullaland says no to what she doesn't need and uses less of what she has to.

She is part of the Zero Waste movement.

“It’s about throwing away as little waste as possible,” she says.

In 2022, Norwegians threw away an average of 431 kilograms of trash at home (link in Norwegian). That’s about the weight of a horse.

For Ullaland, it’s quite different.

She reuses, recycles, and composts.

Her waste fits into a jam jar.

This is Zero Waste:

Zero Waste has five “rules of living” to reduce the amount of trash we produce:

1. Say no

Think carefully before you accept something.

“Say no to a new plastic bag at the store and advertisements in the mailbox,” says Ullaland.

2. Use less

Bring a tote bag and your own produce bags for fruit and vegetables when you go shopping.

“I have my own coffee cup and a refillable bottle in my bag,” says Ullaland.

3. Reuse

Clothes and shoes last much longer than fashion trends.

“Use what you own and repair it if it gets damaged,” says Ullaland.

4. Recycle

Recycle what you can.

“Used paper and cardboard can be ground up and made into new paper,” says Ullaland.

5. Compost

You can make your own compost at home.

“If you're interested, you can try a worm compost. The worms need food waste and create the world's best soil,” says Ullaland.

The pieces fall into place

What ends up in Ullaland’s jam jar – after she’s tried everything she can to cut her waste?

“One example is the piece around a SIM card that allows it to fit in different mobile phones,” she says.

But this piece eventually found its way out of her jar. Someone in the family suddenly needed it.

Arve Hansen researches consumption at the University of Oslo, examining what people in Norway use.

“Then all I had to do was open the jar,” she says.

Not for everyone – but an inspiration

Can't we just set the trash on fire and let it burn away, you might be thinking?

“No, that clashes with the idea of zero waste,” she says.

If you burn your waste, things that can still be used go up in smoke. This would also create greenhouse gases.

“It pollutes our air,” says Ullaland.

Arve Hansen studies everything Norwegians use.

“Zero waste might not be for everyone, but it's great inspiration to take action,” he says.

Norwegians at the top of the world

Kristine Ullaland always carries a water bottle in her bag. This means she can say no to paper cups and plastic bottles.

The very goal of zero waste is to become better at using what you already have – and to think carefully before buying something new.

That sounds possible to most people.

The hashtag #zerowaste has over 11 million hits on Instagram.

“We should think carefully about what we really need because Norwegians rank among the highest in the world for consumption,” says Hansen.

This is true almost regardless of what consumer goods the researchers measure.

“We spend 50 per cent more money on clothes and shoes than the average European,” he says.

The same applies to furniture.

“We are also among the top in the world for car usage, electronic waste, and a number of other things that have major environmental consequences,” he says.