The Norwegian Public Roads Administration, Mesta, and Norwaste carried out a project in 2025 in which various measures to reduce littering at rest areas were tested and evaluated. The project was supported by the Retailers’ Environment Fund.
The starting point is a well-known littering problem at rest areas, which costs the public sector a significant amount of money to clean up. The aim has therefore been to gain more knowledge about what influences littering.
The project tested three main measures: reducing and removing waste bins at two selected rest areas, and introducing source separation at three other rest areas. Data and experiences related to litter prevention were also collected through an extensive round of interviews with operations personnel.
Main findings from the report
The report has now been completed and presents interesting findings. The removal and reduction of waste bins led to a decrease in the amount of waste collected at the rest areas themselves, without increasing littering compared to the initial situation. The findings suggest that waste bins influence how much waste is collected at the rest area, but not necessarily the total amount of waste generated.
In the pilot implementation of source separation, the project showed that road users generally adapt to the systems that are put in place. Particularly strong results were observed for plastic sorting, while results for deposit containers and cardboard were somewhat weaker. The variations appeared to be linked to the nature of the rest area—whether it is mainly used by long-haul transport or by tourists—and thus how the area is actually used.
The interviews have also provided valuable insight into the wide variation in challenges related to these issues across the country.
The project shows that how we design and manage rest areas actually influences how people use them. We have also gained a better understanding of what affects littering, as well as a stronger knowledge base for source separation in public spaces. This provides valuable insights for developing targeted recommendations for future solutions.
The pilot has provided us with greater insight into how different waste management solutions affect littering at our rest areas. It shows, among other things, that a solution that works well at one rest area does not necessarily work well at another.
The results of the project are summarized in the report “1-2026 Forebygging av forsøpling på rasteplasser langs bilveg”.
