Every year, around 2.1 billion tons of waste are generated throughout the EU. At present, the EU member states still differ greatly when it comes to waste management methods. However, one trend is recognizable: more recycling and less landfilling. Packaging waste is to be greatly reduced through a variety of measures and, according to the EU action plan, our economic system is to develop into an ecologically sustainable, pollutant-free and carbon-neutral circular economy by 2050.
Based on the following facts about waste management in Europe, we show where we currently stand and in which areas far-reaching changes and major steps towards a sustainable circular economy are still needed.
#1 Europe's waste exports
Some of Europe’s waste is exported to countries outside the EU. Around 55 percent of waste consists of ferrous metal and this is mainly exported to Turkey. The EU exports paper waste, which accounts for around 15 percent of total waste, primarily to India. Most waste is therefore sent to Turkey, India, the United Kingdom, Switzerland and Norway.
#2 Mountains of plastic and the eternal recycling goal
In the EU, each person generates an average of 36.1 kg of plastic packaging waste per year. Although many EU member states now recycle plastic waste, more and more plastic waste is also being generated. The most common method used to dispose of plastic waste in Europe is energy recovery. This means that plastic waste is usually incinerated to convert it into usable heat, electricity or fuel. The second most common method is recycling. However, around half of the plastic that is collected for recycling ends up in countries outside the EU. There, there are usually better technologies and more financial resources to treat the waste further. Until now, a large proportion of plastic waste has been exported to China, but current import restrictions on plastic waste in China are reducing EU exports and plastic waste will have to be disposed of in other ways in the future.
#3 Electronic waste - Europe's problem child
E-waste is one of the fastest growing waste streams in the EU. Less than 40 percent of this waste is currently recycled. As waste electrical and electronic equipment can contain materials that are harmful to the environment and health, it is particularly important to improve the recycling of e-waste, repair old devices and introduce a standardized charger for electronic devices. In the EU, around 11 kg of electronic waste is collected per person every year. In terms of recycling, Austria currently leads all EU member states with around 15 kg per person, while Cyprus brings up the rear with 3.96 kg per inhabitant. However, every year around 250,000 tons of e-waste are shipped from Europe to Ghana in Africa – where they end up in huge electronic waste dumps that destroy the environment.
#4 Food waste as a global problem
Food waste and food losses are one of the biggest global challenges of our time. Along the food supply chain, around a third of all food produced worldwide is lost or wasted. Every year, around 59 million tons of food are wasted in the EU, which corresponds to around 131 kg per person. At 53%, the greatest waste occurs in private households, followed by the processing and manufacturing sector. The least amount of food is wasted in restaurants and the retail sector. It is becoming increasingly important to avoid food waste. This is because food waste is not only responsible for a significant proportion of global greenhouse gas emissions, but also leads to unnecessary use of energy, water and agricultural land. While huge amounts of food are going to waste and wastage is increasing, around 733 million people worldwide went hungry in 2023.
#5 Littering - the wild waste
Littering is basically the leaving or throwing away of waste in nature or in public spaces. Well-known examples are drinks cans, to-go cups, cigarette butts or (free) newspapers that can be found on the street, on paths or in parking lots. No garbage cans provided are used for disposal. There are numerous measures in the EU, such as the EU Plastics Strategy, which have already been implemented or are to be implemented in the future to combat littering. Even in countries with well-functioning waste management systems, such as Austria, huge amounts of waste are carelessly thrown away. In a survey carried out in 2020, over 4,000 tons of waste were found along freeways, main roads, train routes, waterways and in national parks in Austria. The largest quantities are found along roads and, at 500 tons per year, cigarette butts are the most frequently discarded item in Austria. Although there are more and more litter clean-up campaigns to remove “litter”, only a small proportion of the waste can be collected and disposed of properly.
