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Belgium leads Europe in waste management

09:54 26/03/2014

Every Belgian generates 456 kg of household waste per year; that’s less than the European average of 492 kg. Of all household waste generated in 2012 in Belgium, 36 percent was recycled and 21 percent composted, according to new figures from Eurostat.

Germany (65 percent), Austria (62 percent) and Belgium (57 percent) are the only European countries where more than half of the waste is recycled or composted. If only the recycled waste is counted, Belgium is in fourth place with 36 percent.

While 42 percent of the non-recyclable, non-compostable household waste in Belgium is incinerated, only 1 percent goes to the landfill. This latter figure puts Belgium at the highest in its class, with only Sweden (1 percent) and Germany (0 percent) sending so little waste to the landfill.

Written by Robyn Boyle