Mapping Recycling

A report published by the European Environment Agency (EEA) indicates the recycling rates of EU countries differ vastly.

Figures have shown that the Northern Countries, Benelux and the Western part of Central Europe have high rates of recycling in all waste streams. In contrast, new EU member states have typically displayed low recycling rates in terms of municipal waste, but have high levels of end-of-life vehicles (ELV) and waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) recycling.

Statistics suggest that the majority of participating countries recycled under 35 per cent of their total waste in 2006. It is predicted that by 2020, of the 2.8 billion tonnes of waste annually generated in the EU, 1.25 billion tonnes (over 40 per cent) will be regulated by EU requirement targets for recycling and recovery.

In 2007 most countries had high recycling rates for packaging waste, with the lowest amount of packaging recycling occurring in Eastern Europe.

In 2007, 24 out of 27 countries recycled over 80 per cent of all ELV, fulfilling the ELV directive target. The report suggests that the market value of vehicular parts may have been a motivating factor for such high rates of ELV recycling and reuse; the lowest rate recorded was 70 per cent. WEEE recycling rates were similarly high; of the 18 countries to supply data, 13 achieved the targets set for WEEE recycling and reuse, with a rate between 77 and 94 per cent in 2006.

Figures from 2005 and 2006 indicate that whilst there are a few exceptions, most countries recycle a minimum of 50 per cent of demolition and construction waste generated. The recycled waste largely consists of concrete, bricks, tiles and asphalt. Almost all countries with a very high recycling level also recycle a significant quantity of soil. Soil is excluded in the new recycling target for construction and demolition waste, which is set to rise to 70 per cent by 2020.