Total waste generation

Waste generation in Spain has not followed a clear trend since 2010. In the first years, waste generation experienced a drastic drop (– 14.2% in 2012), which could be associated with the global economic crisis that affected Spain in that period. However, a significant recovery was observed in 2014–2018, even reaching values close to those of 2010 in 2018 (+ 5.8% compared with 2016). In 2020, Spain suffered a much steeper fall than the EU as a whole (– 24.2%), probably due to the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on key sectors of the economy such as tourism and construction. In 2022, although the data indicated a recovery (– 8.5%), the level was still significantly lower than in 2010.

According to the latest data obtained for 2022, the most significant categories of waste generated were mineral waste (43.4 Mt), mixed waste (38.1 Mt), and animal and vegetable waste (9.3 Mt). Some 96.8% of the waste generated was non-hazardous waste, and 3.2% was hazardous waste. Of the total hazardous waste, 44.2% corresponded to chemical waste, 32.7% to waste equipment and 18.9% to mineral waste.

The Spanish circular economy strategy, Circular Spain 2030, approved in 2020, lays the foundation for promoting a new production and consumption model, in which the value of products, materials and resources is retained in the economy for as long as possible, and in which waste generation is minimised and the waste that cannot be avoided is used to the greatest extent possible. The strategy thus contributes to Spain’s efforts to achieve a sustainable, decarbonised, resource-efficient and competitive economy. One of the strategy’s objectives is to reduce waste generation by 15% compared with 2010.