Country profiles on waste prevention - 2024

The Waste Framework Directive (EEC, 1975, revised 2008) set a legal obligation for EU Member States to adopt waste prevention programmes by 12 December 2013. The waste hierarchy, the guiding framework for EU and national waste policies, gives the highest priority to waste prevention, followed by (preparing for) reuse, recycling, other recovery and disposal. The analysis of waste prevention initiatives is based on harmonised country/region 'abstracts', which facilitate cross programme comparison. The comparison includes the coverage of waste prevention programmes, as well as the scope, overall objectives, targets, indicators, monitoring systems as well as the approach to evaluating objectives and targets.