During the ongoing corona pandemic, the county residents seem to have taken the opportunity to renovate or clean things they do not use. At the recycling centers in Skellefteå and Umeå, there has been a marked increase. In Umeå, the amount of waste has increased by between 15 and 40 percent.

- We have had about 900 visitors per day. We have had to bring in an extra to help in the evenings when it is at its highest pressure, says Elias Ögren Nätfalk who is an operations technician at Gimonäs recycling station Vakin in Umeå.

Also in Skellefteå, there is an increased pressure on the recycling centers during the corona pandemic. 

- You see a clear increase in impregnated, on the private side it has increased enormously. We also see that the proportion of combustibles has increased, probably because people spend more time at home, says Tommy Marklund, unit manager for waste in Skellefteå municipality.

New routines to relieve pressure

The staff at the recycling centers have had to find new routines for dealing with the pressure that has arisen

- If there are a lot of people, we will prevent them from getting up on the ramp where we stand and work. There will be a longer queue. But not as much congestion, says Elias Ögren Nätfalk.