The first report from the project “Improvements in existing collection and recycling systems for plastic waste from households and other municipal waste sources” is focused on describing the existing situation when it comes to collection and recycling of plastic waste in the Nordic countries. The streams covered are (all from both households and other MSW sources):• Plastic packaging waste.• Non-packaging small plastic waste.• Plastic bulky waste.Similarities and differences among the Nordic countries are presented in the report. The findings provide input into the development of suggestions for improvements.The report is part of the Nordic Prime Ministers’ green growth initiative: “The Nordic Region – leading in green growth.” Read more in the web magazine “Green Growth the Nordic Way” at www.nordicway. org or at www.norden.org/greengrowthThe report for Part 2 will be published in December 2014.