The indicator shows trends in waste generation, both EU-wide and for individual EU countries. It covers both non-hazardous and hazardous waste from:
- all sectors of the economy (production) and
- households (consumption).
It does not cover mineral wastes or soil. Over 90% of these come from the mining and construction sectors, which are subject to considerable fluctuation over time. Waste generation from which major mineral wastes are excluded reflects general trends more accurately than statistics on total waste generated.
The indicator shows the amount of waste generated annually in the EU as a whole and in individual countries, expressed in kilos per inhabitant. It is based on data collected in the way stipulated by the Waste Statistics Regulation and is available for every second year as of reference year 2004.
Data
Waste management indicators measure how waste generated in the EU as a whole and in individual countries is finally treated, whether in the EU / EU countries or abroad. The indicator set reflects the treatment rates of the waste produced in a given country by type of treatment. Indicators are expressed in volumes of treated waste by treatment category as a proportion of the total amount of waste treated.
The indicator covers both non-hazardous and hazardous waste from all economic sectors and from households. However, it excludes mineral wastes and soil, over 90 % of which come from mining and construction.
The indicator set comprises treatment rates for the 6 treatment categories defined in the Waste Statistics Regulation:
| Treatment category |
Code |
| Recovery other than energy recovery - Except backfilling (R2-R11) |
RCV_O |
| Recovery other than energy recovery - Backfilling |
RCV_B |
| Incineration / energy recovery (R1) |
RCV_E |
| Incineration / disposal (D10) |
INC |
| Deposit onto or into land (D1, D5, D12) |
DSP_D |
| Land treatment and release into water bodies (D2-4, D6, D7) |
DSP_O |
The indicator set is based on waste treatment data, collected in the way stipulated by the Waste Statistics Regulation, that reflect the amounts of waste managed in the EU as a whole and in individual EU Member States. In addition, foreign trade statistics (COMEXT data or national data on waste imports/exports) are used to show the amounts of waste exported and imported. Waste exports are added to the waste treated in the EU / in individual EU countries while imports are deducted.
The indicator set is available for every second year after the reference year 2010.
Data
The revenues from secondary materials (waste materials or recyclates) can pay for a substantial part of the total cost of waste management schemes in EU Member States. Therefore, understanding how the price of recyclates changes over time is an important aspect of waste management.
Some waste materials - such as glass, paper and plastics - are covered by the Foreign Trade Statistics (FTS) in volume (tonnes) and in value (€). For each material the FTS provide data relating to differing values of material - from lower value post-consumer waste to higher priced and well-defined residues from manufacturing processes. Foreign Trade Statistics are published monthly, with a delay of approx. 2.5 months. 2004 was chosen as the starting point for the price indicators.
Indicators
The primary indicator presents the specific prices (€/tonne) over the total traded volume of glass, paper and plastic for all related FTS codes.
As an additional indicator, the total volume (import and export) of the 3 traded waste materials is shown. This indicator (tonnes/month) shows the activity of the market and covers intra- and extra-trade in the EU.
Tables and charts for each material can be accessed by clicking on the links below:
Glass
Paper
Plastics
The municipal waste indicator shows trends in the amounts of such waste generated and the amounts recovered and disposed of through:
- Material recycling
- Recycling through composting and digestion
- Recovery - energy recovery (R1)
- Disposal - incineration (D10)
- Disposal - landfill and other (D1-D7, D12).
It is expressed in kilos per inhabitant and is published annually, with a time series going back to 1995.
The use of municipal waste as an indicator for waste generation and treatment has a long tradition in Europe and beyond. Municipal waste constitutes only around 10 % of total waste generated, but because of its heterogeneous composition, environmentally sound management is challenging. The way municipal waste is managed thus gives a good indication of the quality of the overall waste management system.
Data
Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) poses a risk to the environment due to the presence of hazardous components; however, if recycled it has the potential to provide a source of important secondary raw materials, such as precious metals and other highly valuable materials. Therefore, the indicator recycling rate of e-waste tracks the recycling of waste electrical and electronic equipment.
The data collected under the WEEE Directive 2012/19/EU includes volumes collected for treatment and the rate of recycling at the treatment facilities. The collection rate equals the volumes collected divided by the average sum of EEE (electrical and electronic equipment) put on the market in the previous three years. The overall e-waste recycling rate, therefore, is the collection rate multiplied by the rate of recycling at the treatment facilities, and it is assumed that the total amount of collected e-waste is indeed sent to treatment / recycling facilities.
Data
