New Eurostat data for 2024 indicates a mixed outcome for EU waste management. Progress in recycling is offset by a drop in countries meeting the 2035 landfill directive target.
Key Takeaways
- New Eurostat data for 2024 shows mixed results for EU waste management, with fewer countries meeting the landfill directive target.
- Only nine member states landfilled less than 10% of municipal waste in 2024, down from eleven in 2023.
- Germany leads in recycling, with 67% of its municipal waste recycled or composted in 2024.
- Since 2001, landfilling rates have decreased by 12 percentage points, while recycling increased by nine points.
- The Waste-to-Energy share has remained stable at 26% in 2024, contrasting with fluctuations in recycling and landfilling rates.
The latest figures from Eurostat for the year 2024 indicate a shift in municipal waste treatment across Europe. An analysis by Cewep highlights that the number of EU member states meeting the future landfill directive target has decreased.
In 2024, only nine member states landfilled less than 10 per cent of their municipal waste. This is a decrease from 11 member states in 2023. The landfill directive sets a target for member states to landfill less than 10 per cent of their waste by 2035. The data also shows that eight member states continue to landfill more than half of their residual waste.
The Cewep file can be downloaded here.
Recycling and Landfill Trends
Germany was the leading country for recycling in 2024, with 67 per cent of its municipal waste being either recycled or composted.
An examination of trends from 2001 to 2024 reveals a significant shift away from landfilling. Over this period, the rate of landfilling has decreased by 12 percentage points, while recycling has increased by nine percentage points.
The Cewep file can be downloaded here.
Stable Waste-to-Energy Share
The share of waste treated in Waste-to-Wnergy (WtE) plants has remained stable. Since 2011, the proportion has consistently been between 25 per cent and 27 per cent, standing at 26 per cent in 2024. This stability contrasts with the notable changes in recycling and landfilling rates over the same period. The data provided by Cewep includes figures for all EU member states, plus Norway and Switzerland.
The data in our country profiles will be updated with the latest Eurostat figures as soon as possible.
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