1.1. Contact organisation
Statistical Office of the European Union (Eurostat)
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
e-mail contact: ESTAT-SDG-MONITORING@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
30 March 20232.2. Metadata last posted
19 March 20252.3. Metadata last update
19 March 2025Indicator is part of the EU Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) indicator set. It is used to monitor progress towards SDG 11 on making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable which is embedded in the European Commission’s Priorities under 'A new era for European Defence and Security', 'Supporting people, strengthening our societies and our social model', 'Sustaining our quality of life: food security, water and nature' and 'Protecting our democracy, upholding our values'.
SDG 11 aims to renew and plan cities and other human settlements so that they offer opportunities for all, with access to basic services, energy, housing, transportation, green public spaces and others, while improving resource use and reducing environmental impacts.
The indicator can be considered as part of the global SDG indicator 11.6.1 "Percentage of urban solid waste regularly collected and with adequate final discharge with regard to the total waste generated by the city".
Sustainable urban development is a horizontal objective of the 8th Environment Action Programme (EAP). The European Green Capital and the European Green Leaf initiatives showcase commitment to resolving urban environmental challenges.
The 2015 circular economy action plan supports the transition to a stronger and more circular economy. The Directive (EU) 2018/851 of 30 May 2018 established new more ambitious legally binding targets for recycling and reuse of municipal waste. EU countries will now be required to recycle at least 55 % of their municipal waste by 2025, 60 % by 2030 and 65 % by 2035. The 2022 Circular Economy package proposal for packaging and packaging waste Directive aims to reduce packaging waste and increase recycling.
4.1. Data description
The indicator measures the tonnage recycled from municipal waste divided by the total municipal waste arising. Recycling includes material recycling, composting, preparing for re-use and anaerobic digestion. Municipal waste consists mostly of waste generated by households, but may also include similar wastes generated by small businesses and public institutions and collected by the municipality. This latter part of municipal waste may vary from municipality to municipality and from country to country, depending on the local waste management system. For areas not covered by a municipal waste collection scheme the amount of waste generated is estimated.
The Member States report each year the amount recycled and the total municipal waste generated to Eurostat. Data collection, validation and dissemination are performed by the EDC Waste hosted at Eurostat.
4.2. Unit of measure
% of total waste generated
4.3. Reference Period
Calendar year.
4.4. Accuracy - overall
The indicator is produced according to the quality standards of European Statistics. Details on accuracy can be found in the metadata of the source datasets (see link to related metadata).
4.5. Source data
4.5.1. Source data - Organisation
ESS Waste Statistics
4.5.2. Source data - Comment
Data source: Waste Statistics of the European Statistical System (ESS) (ENV_WASMUN)
Data provider: Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, based on data reported by National Statistical Institutes or other competent authorities like Ministries of Environment or Environmental Protection Agencies (data collected from various sources according to national waste management practices).
5.1. Frequency of dissemination
5.1.1. Frequency of dissemination - Grade
Every year5.1.2. Frequency of dissemination - Comment
The indicator is updated annually. Complete and updated ESS data release information can be accessed via Eurostat release calendar.
5.2. Timeliness
5.2.1. Timeliness - Grade
T+2 years5.2.2. 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 MS6.1.2. Reference Area - Comment
Data are presented for all EU Member States plus Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, Montenegro, Republic of North Macedonia, Serbia, Türkiye, Bosnia and Herzogovina and Kosovo(*).
(*) This designation is without prejudice to positions on status and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.
6.2. Comparability - geographical
6.2.1. Comparability - geographical - Grade
> 75% EU MS6.2.2. Comparability - geographical - Comment
Data are comparable between EU Member States respectively other presented countries. Data comparability is limited due to breaks in time series.
6.3. Coverage - Time
6.3.1. Time Coverage - Grade
> 10 years6.3.2. Time Coverage - Comment
Presented time series (including EU aggregates) starts in 2000.
6.4. Comparability - over time
6.4.1. Comparability - over time - Grade
> 4 data points6.4.2. 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 Eurostat's annual monitoring report on Sustainable development in the EU (progress towards SDGs in the EU context).
7.2. Dissemination format - online database
see table sdg_11_60
7.3. Dissemination format - other
Eurostat dedicated section on SDGs: Eurostat overview.
Copyrights: Eurostat Copyright/Licence Policy is applicable.
