Vesar | Vestfold Avfall og Ressurs

What Vesar | Vestfold Avfall og Ressurs does

Vesar (Vestfold Avfall og Ressurs) is a Norwegian municipal waste management company established in 1997 and jointly owned by six municipalities in Vestfold county: Horten, Holmestrand, Larvik, Færder, Sandefjord, and Tønsberg. The company operates as a pure "bestillerselskap" (purchasing/commissioning entity), meaning it owns no collection vehicles or treatment plants; instead, it contracts all physical waste operations to third-party providers through public procurement. Vesar manages household waste collection for most owner municipalities and operates seven recycling stations plus over twenty environmental stations where residents drop off sorted waste, with commercial waste reception available at four stations including the Lofterød facility opened in November 2023. A digital layer includes the Min Renovasjon mobile app for collection schedules and SMS-based pickup notifications, and the company achieved a 66% material recycling rate in 2021 against a 2035 target of 85%.

The company's most strategically distinctive asset is Den Magiske Fabrikken (The Magical Factory), a biogas facility operated in partnership with Lindum AS that converts food waste from approximately 1.2 million inhabitants in the broader Oslo region into biogas, biofertilizer, and green CO2 used in greenhouse operations. Vesar also runs the Kunnskaps- og opplevelsessenteret, an environmental education and experience centre targeting school children. Pricing for direct drop-off at recycling stations is unit-based, with residual waste charged at 100 NOK per bag and non-combustible waste at 500 NOK per cubic meter.

Vesar operates under the Norwegian self-cost (selvkost) principle, recovering only the actual costs of service delivery through municipal renovation fees billed to households by their municipalities. There is no profit motive and no retained earnings, so revenue mechanically tracks cost. The company is led by CEO Andreas Gillund, employs 14 staff, and discloses no revenue figures. All revenue is functionally committed to and constrained by the six owner municipalities, with the 2025-2035 strategy plan adopted in June 2025 setting direction around higher material recycling rates, circular food value chains, and broader circular transition objectives.

Name

Vesar | Vestfold Avfall og Ressurs

Legal name

Vestfold Avfall og Ressurs AS

Website

https://vesar.no

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Vesar is a Norwegian municipal waste management company, owned by six Vestfold municipalities since 1997. It commissions household waste collection, operates seven recycling stations, and runs the Den Magiske Fabrikken biogas plant, recovering costs through municipal renovation fees charged to residents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Municipal Waste Management and Recycling Services

NAICS

Waste Collection (56211)

SIC

Refuse Systems (4953)

akta.pro primary industry

Municipal Contract Collection & Franchise Operations (BPALAAAH)

Keywords

• Municipal waste management
• Household waste collection
• Recycling station services
• Food waste biogas processing
• Hazardous waste disposal

Headquarters

HQ city

Sem (Tønsberg area)

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Renovasjonsgebyr (Renovation Fee): Revenue is generated through municipal renovation fees charged to households in the six owner municipalities. The company operates on a selvkost (cost-covering) principle, recovering only actual costs. Fees are set by individual municipalities and billed to residents through municipal invoices.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Vesar is a municipal bestillerselskap (commissioning company) providing household waste collection, recycling stations, and environmental stations to residents of six Vestfold municipalities. All collection, transport, and treatment services are outsourced via public procurement, while Vesar handles customer service, planning, and the food waste biogas value chain at Den Magiske Fabrikken. Residents also access a mobile app (Min Renovasjon), SMS collection reminders, and the Kunnskaps- og opplevelsessenteret educational centre.

Product overview

Vesar is a waste management and recycling company providing household waste collection services across six municipalities in Vestfold, Norway. The core offering consists of seven recycling stations (Gjenvinningsstasjoner) where residents can drop off sorted waste, supplemented by digital tools including Min Renovasjon/Henteapp for tracking collection schedules, SMS reminders, and downloadable sorting calendars. Additional services include the Returkartonglotteriet (carton recycling lottery), Ombruksuka (annual reuse week), the Kunnskaps- og opplevelsessenteret (educational center), and sale of compost-based planting soil. The company operates on a self-cost principle, meaning all costs are covered by actual expenses distributed among the municipalities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Den Magiske Fabrikken: Biogas production facility where food waste and animal manure are converted to climate-friendly biogas, biofertilizer, and green CO2
• Min Renovasjon
• Kunnskaps- og opplevelsessenteret

Products and services

• Curbside household waste collection (Henting av avfall) Scheduled curbside collection of source-separated household waste fractions (residual waste, food waste, paper, plastic packaging, glass/metal packaging) delivered to residents of five of six owner municipalities (Larvik handles its own collection) via outsourced third-party haulers.
• Recycling stations (Gjenvinningsstasjoner) Seven physical drop-off recycling stations across Vestfold (Grinda, Lersbrygga, Lofterød, Nordre Foss, Rygg, Skoppum, Sogn) accepting sorted waste materials including paper, plastic packaging, glass/metal packaging, hazardous waste, electronics, garden waste, textiles, metal, and wood from residents free of charge for most streams.
• Environmental stations (Miljøstasjoner) Over 20 neighbourhood environmental stations (returpunkter) across Vestfold providing drop-off points for hazardous waste, clothing, and textiles close to residents.
• Commercial waste reception (Næringsavfall / Næringsmottak) Drop-off service for waste from small commercial businesses (craft and trades), available at Skoppum, Nordre Foss, Lofterød, and Sogn stations, with per-unit pricing and metals free of charge.
• Den Magiske Fabrikken food-waste-to-biogas processing Treatment of source-separated food waste through partner Lindum-operated anaerobic digestion, converting waste from ~1.2 million inhabitants into biogas, biofertilizer, and green CO2; the adjacent Reklima greenhouse grows climate tomatoes using these outputs.
• Min Renovasjon mobile app (Henteapp) Mobile application (iOS/Android) for residents providing waste collection schedules, push notifications the day before collection, service request submission, and sorting guides.
• Kunnskaps- og opplevelsessenteret (Knowledge and Experience Centre) Educational facility at Den Magiske Fabrikken offering themed evenings, factory tours, and classroom programmes for 6th and 9th graders covering sorting, recycling, sustainability, and renewable energy, plus adult public engagement.
• Plantejord (compost-based planting soil) Torvfri planting soil produced from composted garden and food waste, sold at Lofterød and Rygg recycling stations (40L bags at 125 kr while stocks last).

Quantifiable outcome

• 66% material recycling rate achieved in 2021, targeting 85% by 2035
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Sirk NorgeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025National organization coordinating Gjenvinnerdagen (Recycler Day), an annual event where Vesar hosts politicians and community stakeholders. Sirk Norge is the waste and recycling industry's national association.
• Kirkens BymisjonminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Partner participating in Gjenvinnerdagen 2025, sharing experiences and insights on textile issues and bringing collected clothes for reuse activities.
• ReklimaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Operates the pilot greenhouse at Den Magiske Fabrikken where tomatoes are grown using biogas fertilizer and green CO2 from the biogas plant. Ivar Hagemoen is the CEO.
• Tønsberg and Færder municipalities and librariesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Joint organizers of Ombruksuka (Reuse Week) 2023, an annual community event promoting reuse and repair activities including sewing workshops and clothing swaps.
• Lindum AScoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Lindum operates Den Magiske Fabrikken (The Magical Factory), the biogas plant where Vesar's food waste is processed into biogas, biofertilizer, and green CO2. Lindum operators greeted Crown Prince Haakon during his 2022 visit.
• Greve BiogassminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Partner involved in biogas production operations at Den Magiske Fabrikken, where matavfall (food waste) and husdyrgjødsel (animal manure) are converted to biogas, biofertilizer, and green CO2.
• TINEminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022TINE's sustainability initiative is referenced in connection with the Knowledge and Experience Centre's educational programs, relating to the broader circular food production ecosystem at Den Magiske Fabrikken.
• Norsk GjenvinningminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Operates Sogn gjenvinningsstasjon on behalf of Vesar. Also referenced in relation to campingvogn (caravan) disposal at Rygg, Tønsberg. Collaborated during periods of staff shortages.
• Holmestrand MunicipalitycoreOthers · 1 January 1997One of six owner municipalities. Voting rights proportional to population at establishment in 1997. Represents one of the primary municipal shareholders in the company.
• Horten MunicipalitycoreOthers · 1 January 1997One of six owner municipalities. Voting rights proportional to population at establishment in 1997. Represents one of the primary municipal shareholders in the company.
• Færder MunicipalitycoreOthers · 1 January 1997One of six owner municipalities. Voting rights proportional to population at establishment in 1997. Represents one of the primary municipal shareholders in the company.
• Tønsberg MunicipalitycoreOthers · 1 January 1997One of six owner municipalities. Voting rights proportional to population at establishment in 1997. Represents one of the primary municipal shareholders in the company.
• Larvik MunicipalitycoreOthers · 1 January 1997One of six owner municipalities. Voting rights proportional to population at establishment in 1997. Represents one of the primary municipal shareholders in the company.
• Sandefjord Municipality (Andebu and Stokke areas)coreOthers · 1 January 1997One of six owner municipalities (limited service scope). Voting rights proportional to population at establishment in 1997. Represents one of the primary municipal shareholders in the company.
• Grønt Punkt NorgeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAdministers the Returkartonglotteriet (Carton Return Lottery) in which 1.6 million kr is distributed annually to incentivize proper sorting of drink cartons. Vesar participates as a collection point.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Ragn-Sells: Scandinavian waste management group operating across Norway with collection, treatment, and recycling services. Comparable as a broad industry incumbent in the same waste-management value chain.
• Norsk Gjenvinning: Largest private waste management company in Norway, operating recycling stations and treatment facilities nationwide (including Sogn station on behalf of Vesar). A broader incumbent that competes for waste-handling contracts.

Direct peers

• Trondheim Renholdsverk (TRV): Municipal waste management company in Trondheim, providing household waste collection, recycling stations, and treatment. Comparable to Vesar in function, although it operates as a single-municipality entity.
• Avfall Sør AS: Inter-municipal waste company serving several Agder municipalities. Closely comparable in offering (curbside collection, recycling stations, environmental stations) and public-mandate structure.
• IVAR IKS: Inter-municipal company in the Stavanger region handling water, wastewater, and waste services. Comparable to Vesar as a multi-municipal utility operating on a selvkost-like basis with public ownership.
• Renovasjon i Grenland IKS (ReTura): Inter-municipal waste and recycling company for the Grenland region. Directly comparable in scope (curbside collection, recycling stations, household focus) and public ownership structure.
• BIR AS (Bergen Interkommunale Renovasjonsselskap): Inter-municipal waste management company serving municipalities in the Bergen region. Closely comparable to Vesar in mandate (household waste collection, recycling stations, treatment) and ownership model (municipal).
• Renovasjonsselskapet for Kristiansandsregionen (RFK): Inter-municipal waste company in the Kristiansand region, providing household waste collection, recycling stations, and treatment. Structurally similar to Vesar as a regionally mandated municipal waste operator.

Others

• Sirk Norge: National industry association for the Norwegian waste and recycling sector, coordinating Gjenvinnerdagen and other industry initiatives in which Vesar participates. Adjacent industry body rather than a peer operator.
• Lindum AS: Operator of Den Magiske Fabrikken biogas plant, Vesar's core food-waste processing partner. An ecosystem/operating partner rather than a competitor, but directly tied to Vesar's circular-economy strategy.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCETdhLneRoTxmXFEkqjEAAg
• Facebookfacebook.com/vesarvestfold
• Instagraminstagram.com/vesarvestfold
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vesar-vestfold

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles21 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Vesar | Vestfold Avfall og Ressurs