Recycling in Europe

Statistics report on recycling in Europe

Recycling in Europe

European countries have some of the highest recycling rates worldwide. Although progress has stalled in recent years, the European Union has set a series of recycling targets for the coming decades, aiming to achieve a circular economy by 2050.
This report presents the most up-to-date statistics about the recycling industry in Europe. With a focus in the European Union, it provides an overview of waste recycled in the region, as well as recycling rates for various waste materials. It also looks into the volumes of recyclable materials exported for treatment and the EU's zero waste targets.

Table of contents

Overview

3
  • Premium Statistic Global municipal waste recycling rate 2022, by select country
  • Premium Statistic Global waste recycled per capita 2022, by select country
  • Basic Statistic Circular material use rate in the European Union 2004-2022

Trade

4
  • Premium Statistic Recyclable raw materials trade volume in the European Union 2005-2023, by flow
  • Premium Statistic Recyclable waste exports from the European Union 2023, by destination
  • Premium Statistic Plastic waste exports from the European Union 2015-2023, by destination
  • Premium Statistic Plastic waste exports from the European Union EU-27 2023, by origin

Municipal waste

5
  • Premium Statistic Municipal waste recycled in the European Union 1995-2022
  • Premium Statistic Municipal waste recycled per capita in the European Union 1995-2022
  • Premium Statistic Recycling rate of municipal waste in the EU 2000-2022
  • Premium Statistic Recycling rate of municipal waste in the European Union 2010-2022, by country
  • Premium Statistic Recovery rate of construction and demolition waste in the EU-27 2020, by country

Packaging

6
  • Premium Statistic Packaging waste generated and recycled per capita in the European Union 2010-2021
  • Premium Statistic Recycling rate of packaging waste in the European Union 2021, by country
  • Premium Statistic Recycling rate of packaging waste in the European Union 2021, by material
  • Premium Statistic Recycling rate of plastic packaging waste in the European Union 2010-2021
  • Premium Statistic Recycling rate of paper and cardboard packaging waste in the European Union 2005-2021
  • Basic Statistic Recycling rate of glass packaging in the European Union 2005-2021

PET

4
  • Premium Statistic PET collection rates in Europe 2023, by country
  • Premium Statistic Recycling rates of PET in Europe 2022, by type
  • Premium Statistic PET recycling capacity in Europe 2022, by country
  • Premium Statistic Share of recycled PET use in Europe 2022, by end-user

E-waste and batteries

4
  • Basic Statistic Electric vehicle battery recycling capacity 2023, by country
  • Premium Statistic Portable batteries sold and share collected for recycling in the EU 2011-2021
  • Premium Statistic Share of e-waste formally collected in Europe 2022, by sub region
  • Premium Statistic E-waste per capita collection in the European Union 2021, by country

Outlook

3
  • Basic Statistic Recycling targets for municipal waste in the EU-27 2025-2035
  • Basic Statistic Recycling targets for packaging waste in the EU-27 2025-2030, by type
  • Basic Statistic Target scenarios for residual municipal waste reductions in the EU-27 2030

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