Environmental Data Centre on Waste

Municipal waste generated and treated , kg per capita

Municipal waste consists of waste collected by or on behalf of municipal authorities and disposed of through the waste management system. The bulk of this waste stream is from households, though "similar" wastes from sources such as commerce, offices and public institutions are included.

See also:      News - Eurostat Newsrelease N°37/2011 - 08 March 2011

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The statistical reporting for municipal waste is generally the most comprehensive out of all the waste streams. This is, in part, due to the fact that in many Member States the government is responsible for the management of this waste stream. Hence reporting requirements are implemented in order to weigh up the performance of different municipalities against targets set out in national waste strategies.

The management of municipal waste is, to some extent, driven by landfill diversion targets set out in the Landfill Directive (See Landfill section). However, the recent revision to the Waste Framework Directive (WFD) includes the following target for household, and similar, waste:

• by 2020, the preparing for re-use and the recycling of waste materials such as at least paper, metal, plastic and glass from households and possibly from other origins as far as these waste streams are similar to waste from households, shall be increased to a minimum of overall 50 % by weight.

 Better Management of Municipal Waste Will Reduce Greenhouse Emissions, EEA Briefing (January 2008)

 

 Municipal Waste Management and Greenhouse Gases, ETC/RWM Working Paper (January 2008)

 

 EU as a Recycling Society -  Present recycling levels of Municipal Waste and    Construction & Demolition Waste in the EU

EIONET on Municipal Waste

 

EIONET on Biodegradable Municipal Waste