Waste generation and decoupling in Europe

Assessment versions

Published (reviewed and quality assured)

• 23 Jun 2021, 11:36 AM
  - Waste generation and decoupling in Europe

Rationale

Justification for indicator selection

No rationale has been identified for this indicator

Scientific references

• No rationale references available

Indicator definition

The two figures in this indicator provide information on waste generation. Figure 1 shows indexed values of waste generation, population and GDP, with 2010 being taken as the reference year (2010 = 100%). GDP was chosen as a basic indicator of economic growth, and average population as an important demographic indicator and driver of waste generation. Figure 2 shows waste generation, excluding major mineral wastes, per capita by European country. Data presented in the form of a bar chart are displayed for the reference year (2010) and the last year for which data are available (2018).

Units

The unit in which the indicator is measured

• Figure 1: indexed values of waste volumes (in tonnes) and GDP (in chain linked volumes (2010), millions of euros) are expressed as percentages of 2010 values (set at 100%).
• Figure 2: waste generation except major mineral wastes is expressed in kg per capita.

Policy context and targets

Context description

One of the characteristics of the linear economy system, which has predominated in recent decades, is a high level of resource consumption followed by a high level of waste generation (‘take-make-dispose’ model). This economic model is based on increasing profits generated by the consumption of primary resources and increasing demand for short-cycle products. In 2015, 2018 and 2020, the European Commission adopted circular economy packages to make the transition to a circular economy model, according to which resources should be used in a more sustainable way (EC, 2015, 2018, 2020). The waste hierarchy serves to set priorities for EU and national waste policies and gives the highest priority to waste prevention, followed by preparing for reuse, recycling, other methods of recovery and disposal (EU, 2018). These priorities are highlighted by recent waste and resource efficiency policies and strategies at EU and national levels.

Targets

No targets have been specified

Related policy documents

• COM(2011) 571 final, Roadmap to a resource efficient Europe
  COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS. Roadmap to a Resource Efficient Europe
• COM(2015) 614 final, An EU action plan for the Circular Economy
  COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS Closing the loop - An EU action plan for the Circular Economy COM/2015/0614 final
• COM(2018) 28 final, A European Strategy for Plastics in a Circular Economy
  COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS A European Strategy for Plastics in a Circular Economy COM/2018/028 final
• COM(2020) 98 final, A new Circular Economy Action Plan For a cleaner and more competitive Europe
  COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS A new Circular Economy Action Plan For a cleaner and more competitive Europe COM/2020/98 final
• Directive (EU) 2018/851 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018 amending Directive 2008/98/EC on waste
  Directive (EU) 2018/851 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018 amending Directive 2008/98/EC on waste

Methodology

Methodology for indicator calculation

Figure 1: raw data for waste generation (total and excluding major mineral wastes) and GDP were retrieved from Eurostat. Eurostat aggregate data for the EU-27 were used. Data on waste generation contain all NACE (statistical classification of economic activities in the European Community) activities and households. Frequency of data publishing varies from every 2 years (for waste generation) to every year (for GDP). The aggregated figures are indexed to 2010, which means that the figure for each year is divided by the figure for 2010 and then multiplied by 100. No gap filling was applied to the data. Information on data set uncertainties can be found directly in the metadata and explanatory notes provided by Eurostat. Only official Eurostat data sets have been used.

Figure 2: data for waste generation, excluding major mineral wastes, were retrieved from Eurostat. Data are displayed at country level, contain all NACE activities and households and are expressed in kg per capita. To provide the broadest possible picture of European countries, geographical coverage was extended to the 32 EEA member countries and the Western Balkan cooperating countries. The frequency of data publishing is every 2 years. No gap filling was applied to the data. Information on data set uncertainties can be found directly in the metadata and explanatory notes provided by Eurostat. Only official Eurostat data sets have been used.

Methodology for gap filling

No methodology for gap filling has been specified. Probably this info has been added together with indicator calculation.

Methodology references

No methodology references available.

Data specifications

EEA data references

• No datasets have been specified here.

External data references

• GDP and main components (output, expenditure and income)
• Population change - Demographic balance and crude rates at national level (demo_gind)
• Waste generation and treatment (env_wasgen)

Data sources in latest figures

Uncertainties

Methodology uncertainty

No uncertainty has been specified

Data sets uncertainty

Rationale uncertainty

No uncertainty has been specified