According to the last data released by the Eurostat, EU member States generated 513 kg of municipal waste per person in 2009. However, this amount of waste generated per person varied from 316 kg in the Czech Republic and Poland to 833 kg in Denmark. Figures also varied in terms of the treatment granted, although on average 504 kg of municipal waste per person was treated with any of the methods available.

According to the statistical data provided by the Statistical Office of the European Union (Eurostat), the amount of municipal waste generated varies significantly across Member States. For instance, Denmark had the highest amount of waste generated in 2009 with more than 800 kg per person, followed by Cyprus, Ireland and Luxembourg with values between 700 and 800 kg per person, and Malta and the Netherlands with values between 600 and 700 kg.

Austria, Germany, Spain, Italy, France and the United Kingdom all generated between 500 and 600 kg per person, while Belgium, Portugal, Sweden, Finland, Greece, Bulgaria, Slovenia, and Hungary were between 400 and 500 kg. Values of below 400 kg per person were found in the Czech Republic, Poland, Latvia, Slovakia, Estonia, Lithuania and Romania.

Landfilling still the most common method, although recycling gains ground

Figures put forward by Eurostat also show that treatment methods differ substantially between Member States. Although according to a recent report issued by the European Commission  Europeans are improving at recycling, there is still much to do to reduce and reuse waste and there are still Member States whose share of municipal waste landfilled are 100% or closer such as Bulgaria (100% of waste treated), Romania (99%), Malta (96%), Lithuania (95%), and Latvia (92%).

The highest shares of incinerated municipal waste were observed in Sweden (49% of waste treated), Denmark (48%), the Netherlands (39%), Luxembourg (36%), Belgium (35%), Germany and France (with 34%), and in ten Member States incineration was equal to or below 1%.

Germany is the Member State where recycling is the most common method (48% of waste treated), followed by Belgium and Sweden (both 36%), Slovenia and Denmark (both 34%), Ireland and the Netherlands (both 32%).

The Member States with the highest composting rates for municipal waste were Austria (40%), Italy (32%), the Netherlands (28%), Spain and Belgium (both 24%) and Luxembourg (20%). Recycling and composting of municipal waste together accounted for 50% of waste treated or more in Austria (70%), Germany (66%), the Netherlands (61%), Belgium (60%) and Sweden (50%). In seven Member States less than 10% of waste was recycled or composted.