Municipal waste generation

Municipal waste generation in the EU has shown a slight increase in the long term, with per capita generation rising by 2% from 503 kg in 2010 to 513 kg in 2022. However, a 1% decrease in municipal waste was observed in 2022 compared to 2020, although this may be influenced by changes in reporting methodologies under the Waste Framework Directive, as well as the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, Belgium’s expanded reporting to include non-household sources caused a sharp rise from 416 kg per capita in 2019 to 729 kg in 2020, disrupting the time series. Conversely, Sweden’s exclusion of household construction waste from municipal waste led to a decline from 449 kg per capita in 2019 to 431 kg in 2020.

Municipal waste generation varies significantly between EU Member States, with per capita waste ranging from 303 kg in Romania to 803 kg in Austria, a 2.7-fold difference. This variation is largely influenced by differences in household consumption patterns.

Additional variations in municipal waste may result from different reporting practices or definitions. Some countries may not yet include waste from non-household sources, or may only report household waste in their municipal waste data, potentially skewing comparisons. In countries with over 600 kg of MSW per capita, household waste constitutes less than 75% of the total MSW, while in other countries, only household waste is included in the MSW figures.

Changes in reporting definitions and the ongoing effects of COVID-19 complicate efforts to fully understand long-term trends in municipal waste generation and prevention. Therefore, while there is evidence of progress, it remains challenging to draw definitive conclusions regarding the true impacts of waste prevention policies.