- Municipal waste
- 699 kg per capita
- Incineration rate
- 44%
- Recycling rate
- 56%
- Landfill rate
- 0.1%
In 2024, Belgium generated 699 kg of municipal waste per capita, significantly exceeding the EU-27 average of 513 kg. The disposal of municipal waste is primarily conducted through recycling, incineration, and landfilling.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, Belgium generated 699 kg of municipal waste per capita, exceeding the EU-27 average of 517 kg.
- The recycling rate reached 56% in 2024, meeting the EU target for 2025, while incineration accounted for 44% of waste disposal.
- Waste generation surged during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a 76% increase from 2019 to 2020, leading to higher recycling and incineration rates.
- Regional strategies vary: Brussels focuses on waste reduction, Flanders enforces a ‘pay-as-you-throw’ system, and Wallonia integrates circular economy initiatives.
- Belgium’s challenges include pandemic impacts on recycling rates and the need for consistent reporting procedures in waste management.
| Municipal waste generated | 8.3 million t |
|---|---|
| Waste incinerated | WtE Monitor+Available with WtE Monitor+ |
| Landfill ban | Flanders: separated waste since 1998; Wallonia: combustible waste since 2004, biodegradable waste since 2007 |
| Packaging recycling rate | WtE Monitor+Available with WtE Monitor+ |
| Key legislation | WtE Monitor+Available with WtE Monitor+ |
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Sources
- Eurostat
- wtemonitor.com Datawrapper chart
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