How much waste is generated in the EU?
The European Union generated more than 2.1 billion metric tons of waste in 2020, or roughly 4.8 metric tons of waste generated per capita. The average municipal waste production per person in the EU has been increasing in recent years, nearing 530 kilograms in 2021. Austria, Luxembourg, and Nordic countries such as Norway and Denmark were all among the largest municipal waste producers per capita that year, with over 750 kilograms generated. In contrast, Albania and Romania had the lowest per capita waste generation in the continent, at less than 350 kilograms.Waste management in Europe
In 2020, 60 percent of EU waste disposed was treated in recovery operations, with recycling accounting for the largest share. Meanwhile, around one-third of total waste generated in the bloc was landfilled, with another nine percent incinerated without energy recovery or disposed of otherwise. Nevertheless, waste management methods across the EU vary greatly among Member States. For example, more than 80 percent of waste in Italy is recycled, whereas countries like Finland and Bulgaria predominantly dispose of their waste at landfills.When it comes to recycling of municipal waste in the EU, rates have increased steadily over the past two decades, peaking at 49.6 percent in 2021. At least five EU Members had a municipal waste recycling rate above 50 percent that year, with the highest recorded in Germany.
Recycling targets and a circular economy
A series of ambitious recycling targets have been set for the coming decades to promote a more circular economy within the European Union. EU Member States are now legally bound to recycle (or prepare for reuse) 60 percent of municipal waste generated by 2030. Under the European Commission's Waste Framework Directive, residual municipal waste needs to be reduced by 50 percent by that same year, to roughly 56.5 million metric tons. However, the EU is currently not on track to reach this target without reducing waste generation. This means that recycling alone is not enough to solve the waste problem, and that waste prevention is urgently required.
