The Division of the Environment
The Division of the Environment deals with the supervision of health conditions and pollution, wildlife conservation and gardening in the city, the operation of Reykjavik’s Summer Youth Work Programme, refuse collection from homes in the city, and supervision of waste management, pest control, animal protection and preparation for policy making in the field of the environment and traffic, as well as supervision of its implementation.
Service provided by the City of Reykjavík’s Division of the Environment

The Botanical Garden of Reykjavík
In the Botanical Garden of Reykjavík, native and foreign plant species are collected, conserved and registered. The Botanical Garden is divided into nine collections: Iceland's flora; perennial foreign plants; heath roses; a rose collection; forest floor plants; a tree collection; a gazebo; a rock garden; and a gourmet garden. All the plants are labelled with the Icelandic and Latin species and genus names, and their origins are indicated. Admission is free of charge. During the summer, a café operates in the gazebo. The Botanical Garden of Reykjavík is located in Laugardalur. The Botanical Garden is open throughout the year, summer opening hours for the gazebo are 10 am-10 pm (April-September), during the winter they are: 10 am– 5 pm (October-March). www.grasagardur.is
Tel: 411 8650. E-mail: botgard@reykjavik.is.

Reykjavík Waste Management
Reykjavík Waste Management collects residential waste. Only residential waste may be placed in garbage bins; emphasis is placed on maximising waste sorting and recycling.  It is not permitted to place garden waste, construction & demolition waste, soil or rocky materials in garbage bins. Garden waste must be composted or brought to Sorpa’s recycling facility, or to other facilities that process non-reactive waste and are licenced for such operations. Placing hazardous waste, medicine, or other dangerous substances in garbage bins is not permitted. The waste must be taken to Sorpa’s recycling facility or to other facilities that have operating licenses for receiving hazardous waste. Placing lumber, scrap metal, or other rough waste materials in garbage bins is not permitted. The waste must be taken to Sorpa recycling facility or to scrap metal processing facilities.
E-mail address: sorphirda@reykjavik.is
Tel: 411 8500

District Containers
District Containers are located all across the city. Milk and juice cartons, newspapers, magazines, and other paper products may be placed in the containers free of charge. By sorting waste and taking it to the District Containers, there is a considerable reduction in waste that is disposed of in garbage bins. This offers a reduction in the number of garbage containers needed, or in the garbage collection rate (green bin). For further information about the containers and their location: http://www.sorpa.is/bindata/documents/Kort_rvk_grenndarstodvar_des2006_00200.pdf

Green Bins
Lower disposal rate, lower waste disposal fees
Residents of single family dwellings (terraced, semi detached, and single family houses) are able to obtain green bins which are emptied fortnightly, instead of weekly. The waste disposal fees for green bins are half of what is charged for conventional black bins.
E-mail address: sorphirda@reykjavik.is
Tel: 411 8500

Paper Bins
From autumn 2007 onwards, blue bins will be available for newspapers. It is cheaper to have a green and a blue bin than one black one. At apartment buildings, the number of black bins may be reduced with the introduction of blue bins. Orders for blue bins can be placed by phoning 411 8500, or e-mailing sorphirda@reykjavik.is. The consent of the house’s residents is neededin order to obtain a blue bin for an apartment building, as the fees are divided proportionally between all the apartments. The staff of the Division of the Environment take the orders and the bin will be delivered to the residents, free of charge, as soon as the Division of the Environment receives them (see below). Residents can also reduce the numbers of garbage bins for unsorted waste, or obtain a green bin, which will reduce waste management fees.

Dog Surveillance
Dog keeping in Reykjavík is allowed on certain conditions. An application for a dog licence needs to be submitted to the Division of the Environment, and a fee is payable. Dog inspectors deal with complaints about loose dogs and disturbance. It is important to bring an application for the dog licence, with a completed form, to the reception of the Division of the Environment. The form can be printed from the Division of the Environment’s website, and the City of Reykjavík’s main website: Rafræn Reykjavík. Tel: 411 8500. Homepage: www.umhverfissvid.is. Below are the city’s dog inspectors:
Helgi V. Helgason
Mobile phone: 693 9648
E-mail: helgi.helgason@reykjavik.is
Óskar Björgvinsson
Mobile phone: 693-9647
E-mail: oskar.bjorgvinsson@reykjavik.is

Pest Control
The City of Reykjavík Pest Control services are supervised by the Division of the Environment. They deal with vermin, e.g. rats, mice, minks, foxes, scavenging birds, and insects. The services include counselling about vermin, and assistance with eliminating infestations.  The City of Reykjavík’s Pest Control has facilities at Stórhöfði 9. Operating hours are: 8 -10 am and 1-2 pm, weekdays. Tel: 411 8720. Requests for assistance can also be sent to the e-mail address: gudmundur.th.bjornsson@reykjavik.is. In addition, information can be obtained from the Division of the Environment, Tel: 411 8500

Cat Ownership
A new resolution about cat ownership in Reykjavík came into force on August 23, 2005. The objective with revising the former resolution was to reduce the number of unclaimed cats and decrease the number of disagreements about cat ownership.
If any questions can not be answered with the information provided on this website, contact 411 8500 or dyraeftirlit@reykjavik.is
Reykjavík Summer Youth Work Programme
The Reykjavík Summer Youth Work Programme operates during the summer and winter. During the winter months, approximately 100 students participate in employment-related education. During the summer, a little less than 4000 students work in Work Programme groups all across the city and at the peripheries of Heiðmörk, Bláfjöll, Hólmsheiði, and Kjalarnes. Approximately 230 instructors supervise the Work Programme groups’ work and training. Ten supervisory instructors are consultants and supervisors for the other instructors. The regions that are entrusted to the supervisory instructors are divided into sections according to landmarks and the boundaries of city quarters.

School Gardens
School Gardens are operated from early June to late August. The operation begins with registration, which takes place in each garden in May. The garden is for children aged 8-12 years, but pensioners have also the chance to obtain a lot. Each individual is allocated an 18m² garden, seeds, vegetable and flower seedlings. A 2-hour commitment is required each day, but participants can stay for the entire daily operating period: 8-12 am, and 1-4 pm. Instructors work with the children, provide guidance, play with them, and supervise nature study hikes around the neighbourhood, which enhance their knowledge about the environment and the city.

Company Establishment - Operating Licence
When starting up the operation of a company that provides service for the city’s inhabitants, it is necessary to apply for an operating licence from the Division of the Environment. Clauses from the health protection regulations regarding facilities are applicable. Applications for operating licences can be made at the Division of the Environment, Tel: 411 8500.

Food Inspection
According to a food inspection and health protection regulation on food production, no. 522/1994, food producers and distributors must have an operating licence from an official supervisory body. The supervisory body of most food companies in Reykjavík is the Food Inspection of the Division of the Environment. Application forms for operating licences are available on the City of Reykjavík’s website.

Pollution Control
Amongst the legislated tasks of the City of Reykjavík’s Pollution Control is environmental monitoring, i.e. systematic and frequent registration of inconstant environmental variables.
The following variables are monitored by Pollution Control:
1. Air quality
2. Water quality , i.e., fresh and salt water
3. Sewerage
4. Soil and Sediments
5. Treatment of land
6. Noise and Odours
Further information, e.g. about air, water and soil pollution, is provided via tel: 411 8500