Waste generation in the EU: 1 697 kg per capita in 2024

In 2024, the EU generated 765 million tonnes of waste, excluding major mineral waste from mining, quarrying, construction and demolition. This was equivalent to 35% of all waste generated (2 196 million tonnes). On average, each person in the EU generated 1 697 kg of waste in 2024, not including major mineral waste.

Over the last 2 decades, the total amount of waste generated, excluding major mineral waste, decreased by 1.9% from 779.5 million tonnes in 2004.

Among EU countries, Estonia produced the highest amount of waste excluding major mineral waste (4 703 kg per capita), followed by Belgium (3 157) and Bulgaria (2 881). Estonia's high waste generation is linked to energy production from oil shale. By contrast, Malta (1 092 kg per capita), Ireland (1 199), and Slovenia (1 254) generated the lowest amounts.

Source dataset: env_wasgen

42% of EU waste was recycled in 2024

In 2024, almost two thirds (61.8%) of EU waste was treated in recovery operations. Recycling accounted for 42.0% of the total treated waste, backfilling 13.3% and incineration with energy recovery 6.5%. The remaining 37.8% of waste was landfilled, and 0.4% was incinerated without energy recovery. 

EU countries differed significantly in their use of treatment methods. In 12 EU countries, recycling accounted for more than 50% of waste treatment, with Italy (87.3%), Hungary (77.1%), and Slovakia (69.8%) recording the highest shares.  

On the other hand, in Slovenia, 67.8% of waste was used for backfilling, i.e. to fill excavated areas or for engineering and landscaping purposes, replacing other materials where necessary. In Ireland, 45.2% of waste was used this way as well. 

In other countries, landfill was the prevailing treatment category, namely Bulgaria (91.4%), Finland (84.4%) and Sweden (75.1%). 

Incineration with energy recovery was among the least prevalent methods used among EU countries; however, it represented 27.0% of waste treatment in Denmark and 19.4% in Lithuania. 

 Source dataset: env_wastrt