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4.3 Waste recycling
This briefing assesses Europe’s progress towards turning waste into a resource. It uses reported recycling data for different waste streams as a proxy and assumes that the recycled amounts replace new materials that would otherwise have come from virgin sources. The extent to which recycled materials can contribute to Europe’s material demand is assessed in briefing 4.4 Circular economy financing and strategies .
Total turnover of recycling of seven key recyclables in the EU, 2004 and 2006–2009
'Precious metals' include silver, gold and platinum. 'Other metals' include lead, zinc, tungsten, molybdenum, tantalum, magnesium, cobalt, bismuth, cadmium, titanium, antimony, manganese, beryllium, chromium, germanium, vanadium, niobium, rhenium, gallium, indium and cermets. * The 2009 calculation is based on the values for only the second half of 2009. Despite the huge decline in commodity prices at the beginning of 2009 due to the economic downturn, the total turnover of recyclables recovered markedly in the second half of 2009.
Total waste and plastic packaging waste generation versus GDP in EU-27
Treatment of packaging waste in the EU-15
The figure shows the treatment of packaging waste 1997-2010
Treatment of packaging waste in the EU-27
The figure shows the treatment of packaging waste 2005-2010
Value of EU internal and overseas trade in recyclables, 2000–2010 (*)
(*) The 2010 values are based on amounts and values for only the first half of 2010 because figures for the second half of the year were not available at the time of writing. Precious metals include silver, gold and platinum. 'Other metals' includes lead, zinc, tungsten, molybdenum, tantalum, magnesium, cobalt, bismuth, cadmium, titanium, antimony, manganese, beryllium, chromium, germanium, vanadium, niobium, rhenium, gallium, indium and cermets.
Packaging waste generation per capita and by country
The table shows the packaging waste generation per capita by country 1997 - 2010. The Croatian data reflects the collected amount (not the generated amount)
Packaging waste generation per capita and by country
The figure shows the packaging waste generation per capita and by country in the period from 1997 - 2010. The Croatian data reflects the collected amount (not the generated amount)
Persons employed in recycling activities in the EU (*), Norway and Switzerland per million inhabitants, 2000–2007
(*) Data are missing for some countries in years between 2000 and 2007. The countries whose data are missing are listed in ETC/SCP, 2011.
Prospects for EU Member States of meeting the recycling targets for municipal waste and packaging waste
Recycling of packaging waste by country, 2008 and 2010
The figure shows the recycle of packaging waste by country in 2008 and 2010
Recycling rates for packaging waste in 2009 by country
Generation and recycling of packaging waste in the member countries of the European Environment Agency. The data show that 17 countries in 2009 met the 2009 target of the Packaging Waste Directive (2004/12/EC) to recycle at least 55% of packaging waste generated, and two countries missed the 2001 target to recycle at least 25%.
Recycling rates in Europe by waste stream
Recycling rates of municipal and packaging waste relate to waste generated. Recycling of municipal waste includes material recycling and composting/anaerobic digestion. Recycling rates of waste excluding major mineral wastes relate to waste treated. Recycling rates for waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) are calculated on the basis of the average quantity of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) put on the market in the three previous years.
Recycling targets for municipal waste and packaging waste for 2025, 2030 and 2035, in percentage of generated waste
Recycling's current and potential contribution (*) to meeting EU demand for various materials, 2006
(*) The current and potential contribution figures are both based on the infrastructure available in 2006. Future changes in collection rates, improved recycling structures and market conditions could significantly influence the potential contribution figures.
Many EU Member States not on track to meet recycling targets for municipal waste and packaging waste
Europe aims to become a circular economy. To encourage this, the EU has set targets for the 27 Member States (EU-27) to increase recycling and reduce landfilling. Specifically, by 2025, 55% of municipal waste and 65% of packaging waste must be prepared for re-use or recycled. This briefing assesses Member States’ prospects of meeting these targets and its findings constitute the basis of the European Commission’s 2023 early warning report.
Generation of packaging waste and GDP in the EU 27
The figure shows the generation of packaging waste and GDP (Gross domestic product) in the EU27
Generation of packaging waste and GDP in the EU-15
The figure shows the generation of packaging waste and GDP in the EU-15 countries from 1998-2010
Packaging waste recycling rates in Europe by country
Global demand of selected emerging technologies for raw materials in 2006 and 2030 relative to global output of each material in 2006
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