Waste intensity

Europe has made progress in reducing waste intensity, achieving a decrease in waste produced per unit of economic activity between 2010 and 2022. The waste intensity indicator highlights the growing efficiency of resource use, demonstrating how the EU is decoupling economic growth from waste generation.

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Between 2010 and 2022, waste intensity - the amount of waste generated per unit of economic activity - declined by 13% in the EU, with an 8% reduction taking place between 2020 and 2022. This indicates a modest decoupling of waste generation from economic activity, as waste generation has increased at a slower rate than the economy. While reductions in combustion waste are closely linked to declining fossil fuel use, decoupling is most evident in the manufacturing and service industries. In contrast, waste generation in the waste and water sectors continues to rise regardless of economic trends. Further analysis is needed to understand the sector-specific drivers behind these trends.

Waste intensity is a crucial indicator for assessing the progress of waste prevention efforts, as it measures the amount of waste generated per unit of economic activity. By linking waste generation to GDP, this metric provides valuable insight into how efficiently resources are being used across various sectors, including households, industries, and services. It highlights the relationship between economic growth and waste production, helping to evaluate whether growth is being decoupled from waste generation.

Focusing on waste intensity allows us to better understand the effectiveness of waste prevention policies. A stable or increasing trend in waste intensity suggests that current measures may not be sufficient to curb waste generation, signalling the need for stronger policies and actions. In contrast, a decline in waste intensity indicates progress in reducing waste and improving resource efficiency, which is essential for achieving long-term sustainability goals.

Definition

The indicator is defined as all waste generated in a country (in mass unit), excluding major mineral wastes, per GDP unit (in euro, chain linked volumes (2010)). The ratio is expressed in kg per thousand EUR.

Literature

Methodology

Statistics | Eurostat

Metadata

Source: Eurostat

Unit: Kilograms per thousand euro, chain linked volumes (2010)

Temporal coverage: 2010-2022

Geographical coverage: EU-27

Waste intensity

References and footnotes