Bruna Alves
Research lead covering environment and sustainability
Waste management in Europe - statistics & facts
Europe is recognized as a leader within the waste management sector. Recycling rates on the continent are some of the highest in the world, while the share of waste sent to landfills has fallen considerably over the past decades. The EU has now set the ambitious target of becoming a zero-waste circular economy by 2050. But with waste generation and recycling rates plateauing in recent years, pressure is mounting on Europe's waste management sector to keep up and help fulfil these objectives.
Although accounting for just 10 percent of total waste generation, municipal waste is a very important waste stream due to its complexity and link with consumption trends. Municipal waste production in the EU was estimated at 513 kilograms per capita in 2022, recording a year-over-year decline for the first time since 2014. Nordic countries are among the largest producers of municipal waste per capita in Europe, with the average person in Norway and Denmark generating over 700 kilograms per year. In contrast, Albania had the lowest per capita waste generation on the continent, at less than 300 kilograms.
When it comes to total waste generation, 60 percent of EU waste was treated in recovery operations, including recycling, backfilling, and energy recovery. The remaining 40 percent were landfilled. Landfilling remains the main waste disposal method in many European countries, including Romania, Bulgaria, Finland, and Sweden.
Next to relative targets, the 2020 circular economy action plan also aims to halve residual municipal waste generation by 2030, to roughly 56.5 million metric tons. However, as of 2023, the EU was not on track to reach this target without waste generation reduction measures. While certainly beneficial, recycling alone will not be enough to tackle the amount of waste produced in Europe.
How much waste is generated in the EU?
The European Union generates more than two billion metric tons of waste every year, according to the most recent data, equivalent to roughly 4.8 metric tons per inhabitant. Construction and mining waste make up the largest share of waste generated, together accounting for 60 percent.Although accounting for just 10 percent of total waste generation, municipal waste is a very important waste stream due to its complexity and link with consumption trends. Municipal waste production in the EU was estimated at 513 kilograms per capita in 2022, recording a year-over-year decline for the first time since 2014. Nordic countries are among the largest producers of municipal waste per capita in Europe, with the average person in Norway and Denmark generating over 700 kilograms per year. In contrast, Albania had the lowest per capita waste generation on the continent, at less than 300 kilograms.
Waste management in Europe
Municipal waste recycling rates in the EU have increased steadily over the past two decades, reaching 48.6 percent in 2022. Nevertheless, they vary greatly among Member States. Six EU Members had a municipal waste recycling rate above 50 percent that year, with the highest recorded in Germany. With recycling rates growing, the share of municipal waste sent to landfills in the EU has more than halved, from over 50 percent in 2000 to less than 24 percent in 2022. The EU Landfill Directive limits the amount of municipal waste sent to landfills by 2035 to a maximum of 10 percent of waste generated.When it comes to total waste generation, 60 percent of EU waste was treated in recovery operations, including recycling, backfilling, and energy recovery. The remaining 40 percent were landfilled. Landfilling remains the main waste disposal method in many European countries, including Romania, Bulgaria, Finland, and Sweden.
The road to a circular economy
The European Union is committed to increasing the circularity of its economy and reducing the environmental impacts of waste disposal, with a series of ambitious targets put in place in recent years. In addition to the 10 percent landfill limit prescribed by the EU Landfill Directive, the bloc also approved municipal waste recycling targets that see Member States legally bound to recycle or prepare for reuse 60 percent of municipal waste generated by 2030.Next to relative targets, the 2020 circular economy action plan also aims to halve residual municipal waste generation by 2030, to roughly 56.5 million metric tons. However, as of 2023, the EU was not on track to reach this target without waste generation reduction measures. While certainly beneficial, recycling alone will not be enough to tackle the amount of waste produced in Europe.
