Total waste generation

Waste generation in Belgium showed an overall increase until 2018, when it reached a level 6% higher than that in the reference year of 2010. Industry and construction were responsible for the largest shares of waste generation, although the total amount of waste per capita, excluding major mineral waste, also increased. In that same period, gross domestic product per capita also increased. From 2018 to 2022, a positive trend in waste generation was visible, with a drop of 10%, approaching the European average.

Small decreases in gross domestic product and waste generation per capita were observed in 2020. These can be linked to the economic setbacks and mandatory teleworking during the COVID-19 crisis. In the construction, industry and services sectors, a downward trend was observed, while waste generation in households increased.

Belgium has met the EU’s 2020 target of recycling 50% of municipal waste, reaching a level of 54.7% in 2022. In Belgium, only 0.4% of municipal waste is landfilled and 44% is incinerated with energy recovery. However, further efforts are needed to meet the ambitious recycling targets of 60% by 2030 and 65% by 2035, primarily by reducing municipal waste incineration through prevention and improvements in terms of separate waste collection, reuse and recycling.