Polski 
Deutsch 
Español 
Français 
Italiano 
Nederlands 
Čeština 
Română 
Lietuviškai 
Українська 
Permitra • Sweden • 2026–2027
Waste transport permit in Sweden – avfallsförordningen and Länsstyrelsen
Are you a carrier from Ireland, the UK or elsewhere in the EU hauling waste to or from Sweden? We explain who needs a Swedish permit, how the permit for hazardous waste differs from the permit for other waste, how transit is treated and what the authority expects from a carrier.
- Avfallsförordningen (2020:614)
- Miljöbalken
- Regulation (EU) 2024/1157
The short answer
Yes, a carrier from abroad also needs a Swedish permit
Professional transport of waste in Sweden requires a special permit (särskilt tillstånd) under Chapter 5 of the Swedish Waste Ordinance (avfallsförordningen). This applies to companies established abroad as well. The permit is issued by Länsstyrelsen (the county administrative board) and is valid throughout Sweden.
Exception: according to Länsstyrelsen, no permit is needed for transit alone through Sweden.
Before you accept a job
Three separate questions
- Route: loading or unloading in Sweden, or transit?
- Waste: hazardous or not?
- Shipment: Annex VII or notification?
The national system: permit under Chapter 5 of avfallsförordningen
The basis is the Swedish Environmental Code (miljöbalken) and the Waste Ordinance issued under it (avfallsförordningen, SFS 2020:614). Under Chapter 5, Section 1, professional transport of waste requires a special permit, whether or not the waste is hazardous. The differences concern the scope and the period of validity.
| Element | Non-hazardous waste | Hazardous waste |
|---|---|---|
| Basis | Chapter 5, Section 1 of avfallsförordningen – special permit for professional transport of waste | |
| Scope | A permit for non-hazardous waste does not cover hazardous waste | May cover specified types of hazardous waste or hazardous waste in general (Chapter 5, Section 4) |
| Validity | Set by the decision: usually until further notice (tills vidare), but a fixed term is also possible | Fixed term, at most 5 years (Chapter 5, Section 4) |
| Authority | Länsstyrelsen. For a company established and mainly operating abroad: the länsstyrelse of one of the counties where the waste is collected or delivered (Chapter 5, Section 5) | |
| Territory | All of Sweden – one permit, with no separate permits for individual counties | |
The permit is issued as a decision with conditions (villkor) that the carrier must meet throughout its operations. The decision also lists the types of transport for which it was granted. Companies holding a valid permit are entered in a public register of waste carriers kept by the länsstyrelser (Chapter 5, Section 16). The register can be checked by the police, other authorities and any business partner.
Who is covered and the exceptions
A permit is needed by anyone who transports waste professionally (yrkesmässigt), that is, provides a service transporting other people’s waste. A company that carries waste from its own activities needs a permit once it exceeds the thresholds in Chapter 5, Section 1, point 2: more than 10 tonnes or 50 m³ of waste a year, more than 100 kg or 100 litres of hazardous waste a year, and always for waste containing mercury, cyanides, cadmium or PCBs.
Passing through Sweden
Länsstyrelsen informs foreign companies that no permit is needed for transit transport. The shipment must still carry the documents required by Regulation (EU) 2024/1157.
Selected hazardous waste
The permit requirement does not cover several types of waste listed in Chapter 5, Section 2, including waste containing asbestos, infectious waste and part of the residues from municipal waste incineration.
A separate scope and qualifications
Transporting hazardous waste requires a permit covering that scope. The authority then expects you to demonstrate that your drivers hold ADR qualifications.
The waste permit does not replace transport authorisations. Under Chapter 5, Section 3, the company must also hold the authorisations required by other rules. For an EU carrier this is above all the Community licence; a carrier from the UK should check which road haulage authorisations apply to the route.
What the authority expects from a carrier
A permit can be granted only to a company that has the personnel, technical and financial resources to transport waste in a way that is safe for health and the environment (Chapter 5, Section 3). The decision contains conditions which in practice cover several areas:
- Document in the vehicle: a copy of the permit (in Swedish) in every vehicle that carries waste.
- Insurance: motor insurance for every vehicle and company liability insurance for damage not covered by the motor insurance.
- Staff knowledge: drivers know the risks, protective measures and rules on waste transport, and know what to do in case of an accident or spill.
- Securing the load: equipment and measures preventing leaks and spillage of waste.
- Knowing the waste: knowledge of the composition of the waste sufficient to choose the right recipient.
- Changes in the company: notifying the authority of significant changes in personnel, technical or financial circumstances compared with the application.
Failure to comply with the conditions may lead to the permit being revoked in whole or in part (Chapter 24, Section 3 of miljöbalken).
Neither Swedish waste rules nor EU law require vehicles to display “A” plates. This is a German requirement (§55 KrWG). If your route passes through Germany, the plates are needed on that stretch.
The planned time to obtain the permit is about 30 working days. It depends on the authority and on how complete the documents are.
Cross-border transport: Annex VII, notification, DIWASS and SENT
The Swedish permit concerns the carrier. The procedure for a specific shipment is set by Regulation (EU) 2024/1157, applicable from 21 May 2026: for eligible waste destined for recovery this is Annex VII (Article 18), and in other cases prior written notification and consent (notification). The competent authority for shipments in Sweden is Naturvårdsverket (Chapter 8, Section 2 of avfallsförordningen).
Shipment documentation is kept electronically in the EU DIWASS system, which Sweden also uses. For movements between the UK and Sweden, the UK is a third country, so the rules of Regulation 2024/1157 on exports from the EU to third countries and imports into the EU from third countries apply. If your route passes through Poland, you should also check your obligations in the SENT system.
Inspections and sanctions
Länsstyrelsen inspects waste transports crossing the border, including in ports and at border crossings. It checks whether the cargo is waste and whether the shipment has the required documents. The police and other authorities can check a carrier’s permit in the public register of waste carriers.
Transport without a permit
Professional transport of waste with loading or unloading in Sweden without a Swedish permit.
Consequence: the offence “otillåten avfallstransport” (unauthorised waste transport) – a fine or imprisonment of up to 2 years (Chapter 29, Section 4 a of miljöbalken).
Hazardous waste on the wrong permit
The company holds a permit for non-hazardous waste only, and the load carries a waste code marked with an asterisk.
Consequence: transport outside the scope of the permit may be treated as transport without a permit (Chapter 29, Section 4 a of miljöbalken).
Breach of conditions
No copy of the permit in the vehicle, no insurance, unreported changes in the company.
Consequence: criminal liability for breaching a condition (Chapter 29, Section 4 of miljöbalken) and the risk of the permit being revoked (Chapter 24, Section 3).
Illegal shipment
The wrong shipment procedure, for example Annex VII instead of notification.
Consequence: liability under Chapter 29, Section 4 a of miljöbalken; in serious cases imprisonment from 6 months to 6 years.
The amount of the penalty is set by the court in the particular case. Swedish law does not specify a fixed fine for transport without a permit.
Open questions and points to resolve for your company
- Where does transit end? Länsstyrelsen’s position concerns passage through Sweden. Transhipment, a stop with unloading or collecting part of the load in Sweden is already transport with loading or unloading in the country, and therefore subject to the permit requirement.
- Scope of the permit and the load. A permit for non-hazardous waste does not cover hazardous waste. Which scope you need is decided by the classification of the waste by code (an asterisk marks hazardous waste). Mixed loads and uncertain classification need to be assessed before you accept a job.
- Municipal waste. If the transport concerns waste covered by the municipal monopoly on waste collection, the municipality’s consent is needed in addition to the permit.
- Fixed-term permit. For hazardous waste the permit always expires after 5 years at the latest. For other waste the decision may set a term, so check its wording rather than assuming it is open-ended.
We describe the requirements in other countries along your route in the overview Waste transport across Europe in 2026/2027.
Frequently asked questions
Is my home-country carrier registration enough to transport waste in Sweden?
No. Registration of a carrier in your own country does not replace the Swedish permit. Professional transport of waste with loading or unloading in Sweden requires a Swedish permit under Chapter 5, Section 1 of avfallsförordningen.
Do I need a permit if I am only driving through Sweden?
According to Länsstyrelsen, no permit is needed for transit transport. The shipment must still carry the documents required by Regulation (EU) 2024/1157, and the carrier should hold the authorisations required in the countries of loading and unloading.
Is the Swedish permit valid across the whole country?
Yes. The permit is issued by one länsstyrelse and is valid throughout Sweden. You do not need separate permits for individual counties.
How long is the permit valid?
A permit for hazardous waste is issued for a fixed term of at most 5 years. A permit for non-hazardous waste is usually issued until further notice, but the authority may set a term. The decision determines the validity.
Can I carry hazardous waste with a permit for non-hazardous waste?
No. Such a decision expressly excludes hazardous waste. You need a permit covering hazardous waste, and the authority then expects your drivers to hold ADR qualifications.
Do I need “A” plates in Sweden?
No. Swedish rules and EU law do not require them. “A” plates are mandatory in Germany, so on a route through Germany you must have them on that stretch.