Generation of waste excluding major mineral wastes per GDP unit (cei_pc032)

1.1. Contact organisation

Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union

1.2. Contact organisation unit

E2: Environmental statistics and accounts; sustainable development

1.3. Contact name

Confidential because of GDPR

1.4. Contact person function

Confidential because of GDPR

1.5. Contact mail address

2920 Luxembourg LUXEMBOURG

1.6. Contact email address

Confidential because of GDPR

1.7. Contact phone number

Confidential because of GDPR

1.8. Contact fax number

Confidential because of GDPR

2.1. Metadata last certified

27 October 2025

2.2. Metadata last posted

27 October 2025

2.3. Metadata last update

27 October 2025

The indicator is part of the Circular Economy indicator set. It is used to monitor progress towards a circular economy on the thematic area of 'production and consumption'.

In a more circular economy, the value of products, materials and resources is maintained in the economy for as long as possible and the generation of waste is to be reduced where practical, with attention to prospects for recycling and reductions in biotoxicity. Waste prevention is closely linked with improving manufacturing methods and influencing consumers to demand greener products and less packaging. By making the transition to a circular economy the EU aims at decreasing waste generation while maintaining or increasing economic output. 

Comparing waste generated to GDP reflects the waste intensity of the economy and provides a measure of 'eco-efficiency'. Observation of its change from year to year permits to assess whether the economy is able to produce more wealth while at same time generating less waste.

4.1. Data description

The indicator is defined as all waste generated in a country (in mass unit), excluding major mineral wastes, per GDP unit (in euro, chain linked volumes (2010)). The ratio is expressed in kg per thousand EUR. 

Interpretation of the indicator

Data on generation of waste excluding major mineral wastes covers hazardous (hz) and non-hazardous (nh) waste from all economic sectors and from households, including waste from waste treatment (secondary waste) but excluding most mineral waste. Major mineral waste are excluded because weight of total waste generation and treatment is mainly driven by mineral waste from construction/demolition and from mining activities, and the latter widely varies in importance across Member States. Excluding major mineral wastes reflects more accurately general trends than the total waste and improves comparability across countries.

The high variation of the indicator may also be due to a number of factors:

Differences in waste classification by Member States may result in partial non-comparability, e.g. high value for Estonia results from including waste from energy production.

Differences in purchasing power are not fully reflected in exchange rates, thus underestimating real income in some Member States. 

Different structures of the economy and specialization of certain Member States in high value services (e.g. Finances or IT sectors).

4.2. Unit of measure

Kg per thousand euro, chain linked volumes (2010).

4.3. Reference Period

Calendar year.

4.4. Accuracy - overall

The indicator is produced according to the high-level quality standards of European Statistics. Details on accuracy can be found in the metadata of the source datasets (see link in "Related metadata").

4.5. Source data

4.5.1. Source data - Organisation

ESS

4.5.2. Source data - Comment

Data source: European Statistical System (ESS).

Data provider: Statistical Office of the European Union (Eurostat): Generation of waste by waste category, hazardousness and NACE Rev. 2 activity (env_wasgen) collected on the basis of the Waste Statistics Regulation (EC) No 2150/2002; and annual national accounts - GDP and main components - output, expenditure and income (nama_10_gdp).

5.1. Frequency of dissemination

5.1.1. Frequency of dissemination - Grade

Every 2 years

5.1.2. Frequency of dissemination - Comment

Indicator is updated every second year.

5.2. Timeliness

5.2.1. Timeliness - Grade

T+2 years

5.2.2. Timeliness - Comment

New data points are disseminated within two years after the reference year.

6.1. Reference area

6.1.1. Reference Area - Grade

All EU MS

6.1.2. Reference Area - Comment

Data are presented for all EU Member States plus Iceland, Norway, the United Kingdom, Montenegro, Republic of North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo.

The EU aggregate is also available.

6.2. Comparability - geographical

6.2.1. Comparability - geographical - Grade

All EU MS

6.2.2. Comparability - geographical - Comment

Data are comparable between all EU Member States.

6.3. Coverage - Time

6.3.1. Time Coverage - Grade

> 10 years

6.3.2. Time Coverage - Comment

Presented time series (including EU aggregates) starts in 2004.

6.4. Comparability - over time

6.4.1. Comparability - over time - Grade

> 4 data points

6.4.2. Comparability - over time - Comment

Length of comparable time series without methodological break is longer than 4 data points.

7.1. Dissemination format - Publications

Analysis of indicator is presented in Commission Staff Working Document.

Eurostat, Statistics Explained: Waste statistics

Eurostat, Statistics Explained: GDP at regional level

7.2. Dissemination format - online database

See table cei_pc032

7.3. Dissemination format - other

Eurostat dedicated section on Circular Economy.

Eurostat dedicated section on Waste Statistics.

DG ENV, Implementation of the Circular Economy Action Plan.

Copyrights:

Eurostat Copyright/Licence Policy is applicable.

Waste generation and treatment (env_wasgt) - env_wasgt_esms

Eurostat, Manual: Manual on waste statistics - A handbook for data collection on waste generation and treatment, 2013 edition
Eurostat: Guidance on classification of waste according to the European Waste Classification for statistical purposes (EWC-Stat): waste classification.