Diversion of waste from landfill

The overall landfill rate — waste sent to landfill as a proportion of waste generated — decreased from 23% to 17% between 2010 and 2022. However, the rates vary depending on the waste category. For example, the proportion of household and similar waste disposed of in landfill decreased by 61% during this period. However, for sorting residues (mainly secondary wastes from waste treatment facilities) the rate increased by 7%, due to the development of the waste sorting sector to enable a shift from landfill to the material recovery of waste.

Although the reduction in landfilling has not been accompanied with an equivalent rise in recycling, but also with a shift to incineration, the overall less waste ending up in landfills signifies a move upwards in the waste hierarchy. Further landfill reductions are needed to avoid loss of material resources and the pollution linked to landfills.

The EU’s approach to waste management is based on the waste hierarchy, which prioritises the prevention of waste followed by preparation for reuse, recycling, other recovery and then disposal, including to landfill. This final option is the least desirable and should be used only if absolutely necessary. Overall, the generation of waste has increased in the EU in recent years, posing challenges for waste management and potentially undermining the EU’s objective of reducing its reliance on landfill. However, between 2010 and 2022, the total quantity of waste sent to landfill decreased from 173 million tonnes to 137 million tonnes.