The Danish CORE research program concerns exposures and occupational health in waste collection and recycling. Focus is on collection of household waste (mixed waste, bio-waste, recyclable paper, garden refuse, bulky waste) and employees in materials recovery plants (paper sorting and glass sorting plants), incineration plants, composting plants, and biogas producing plants. The program includes measurements of exposure to organic dust, microorganisms, volatile organic chemicals, and work load, as well as questionnaires and clinical studies with lung function testing and analysis of markers of allergy and inflammation. The background of the research program and the overall research plan are described together with some highlights of results.