The EU27 generated 503kg of municipal waste per person in 2011 and 486kg of waste per person was treated in one way or another. Municipal waste means the large quantities of waste generated by households, but may also include the waste generated by small businesses and public institutions collected by the municipal authority. Waste is treated in different ways: landfill (into or onto land), incineration ( at incinerations plants), recycling (reprocessing into other products except fuel) and composting (biological treatment of biodegradable matter into another product). In 2011 37% was landfilled, 23% was incinerated, 25% was recycled and 15% was composted. This compares with 2001 figures of 56% landfilled, 17% incinerated, 17% recycled and 10% composted.
The amount of municipal waste generated varies significantly across European countries. The average for the EU27 was 503kg per person. Denmark generated the highest amount of waste with 718kg per person in 2911. Luxembourg, Cyprus and Ireland generated between 600 and 700kg per peron. Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, Latvia, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Poland and Estonia generated less than 400kg per person.
Romania was the country with the highest percentage of landfill treatment with 99%. The highest percentage for incineration was in Denmark with 54% of municipal waste being treated in that way. Germany came top for recycling with 45%. Austria with 34% had the highest rate for composting.
The UK sends 49% of its municipal waste to landfill, 12% is incinerated, 25% is recycled and 14% is composted. The EU27 averages are 37%, 23%, 25% and 15% respectively.
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