Waste generation per capita (cei_pc034)

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

e-mail contact: ESTAT-CIRCULAR-ECONOMY@ec.europa.eu

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

16 December 2022

2.2. Metadata last posted

16 June 2023

2.3. Metadata last update

16 June 2023

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

Minimising the generation of waste is a key part of the Circular Economy Action Plan. In the Circular Economy Action Plan, waste is considered as a resource. Waste management plays a central role in the circular economy.

EU waste management policies aim to reduce the environmental and health impacts of waste and to improve the EU’s resource efficiency. The long-term aim of these policies is to reduce the amount of waste generated, and when waste generation is unavoidable, to promote it as a resource and achieve higher levels of recycling and the safe disposal of waste.

4.1. Data description

The indicator is defined as total waste generated in a country including major mineral wastes (all NACE activities plus households), divided by the average population of the country.

Waste, defined by Directive 2008/98/EC Article 3(1) as ‘any substance or object which the holder discards or intends or is required to discard‘, potentially represents an enormous loss of resources in the form of both materials and energy. This indicator includes major mineral wastes for all NACE activities plus households.

Interpretation: The indicator is commonly used in the context of monitoring waste generation at Member State level. It measures the effectiveness of waste prevention’ measures. Solid data and possibility to compare Member States' performance and in time series.

4.2. Unit of measure

Kilogram per capita.

4.3. Reference Period

Calendar year.

4.4. Accuracy - overall

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) based on data reported by the countries: 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.

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, Republic of North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

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 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, Environment Publications.

7.2. Dissemination format - online database

See table cei_pc034.

7.3. Dissemination format - other

Eurostat dedicated section on Circular Economy.

Eurostat dedicated section on Waste.

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.