Recycling takes 24% share of treated EU waste

Europe – In 2009, around a quarter of the municipal waste treated in the EU-27 was recycled, according to new figures from the Eurostat statistical office.

On average, 513 kg of municipal waste was generated per person across the EU although the figure varied from 316 kg in the Czech Republic and Poland to 833 kg in Denmark.

Throughout the 27 member states, an average of 504 kg per person of municipal waste was treated in 2009, with 38% going to landfill, 20% to incineration and 18% to composting, while 24% was recycled. Recycling accounted for 48% of waste treated in Germany during 2009, well ahead of its nearest challengers Belgium and Sweden (both on 36%), Slovenia and Denmark (both on 34%), and Ireland and the Netherlands (both on 32%).

Meanwhile, the EU member states with the highest municipal waste composting rates were Austria (40%), Italy (32%), the Netherlands (28%), Spain and Belgium (both 24%), and Luxembourg (20%). In 2009, recycling and composting accounted for 70% of the waste treated in Austria, as well as for 66% in Germany, 61% in the Netherlands, 60% in Belgium and 50% in Sweden. In seven other member states, however, less than 10% of municipal waste was recycled or composted.

According to Eurostat, 100% of the municipal waste treated in Bulgaria was landfilled in 2009, closely followed by Romania on 99%, Malta on 96%, Lithuania on 95% and Latvia on 92%.

The highest rates of municipal waste incineration were observed in Sweden (49% of waste treated), Denmark (48%), the Netherlands (39%), Luxembourg (36%), Belgium (35%), and Germany and France (both 34%).