EU municipal waste generation continues to fall

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Municipal waste arisings in the European Union decreased in 2012 for the fifth year running. The 27 member states making up the EU in 2012 generated around 246.6 million tonnes of municipal waste, according to the latest figures from European statistics office Eurostat. This is about 4.7 million tonnes less than in the year before and 13 million tonnes less than the peak reached in 2007. Including Croatia, which joined the EU on 1 July 2013, municipal waste arisings in the reporting year 2012 totalled 248.3 million tonnes.

Average arisings per inhabitant stood at 492 kg, compared with 499 kg in 2011 and 522 kg in the year 2007. The highest per capita arisings of 668 kg were recorded for Denmark, which was followed by Cyprus (663 kg) and Luxembourg (662 kg). As in the year before, the lowest amount was observed in Estonia (279 kg).

Landfilling remained the most important method of waste management, accounting for 82.7 million tonnes in 2012. However, compared to the years before, there is clear downward trend, with 87.6 million tonnes landfilled in 2011 and 94.8 million tonnes in 2010.

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