The available data reveals significant differences across EU countries. Austria (782 kg per person, 2023 data), Denmark (755 kg), and Belgium (699 kg) recorded the highest levels of municipal waste per person. The lowest amount of waste per person was generated in Romania (305 kg, 2023 data), Estonia (375 kg) and Poland (387 kg).
Since 2014, the amount of municipal waste per person increased in 20 EU countries. Belgium (+274 kg), Czechia (+228 kg) and Austria (+217 kg) had the most significant increases. Conversely, the largest decreases were found in the Netherlands (-54 kg), Denmark (-53 kg) and Finland (-25 kg).
The EU recycled an average of 248 kg of municipal waste per person in 2024. This means that 48.1% of the total amount of this waste generated was recycled, compared with 48.0% in 2023 (246 kg per person) and a more significant improvement compared with 43.0% in 2014 (208 kg per person).
