According to figures from the European statistics authority Eurostat for 2021, both the per capita volume of packaging waste and recycling have increased compared to 2020.

 

With a total volume of 84 million tons, the volume of packaging waste in the EU has increased by 4.8 million tons compared to 2020, according to the latest figures published by Eurostat. According to the authority, 19 percent of this was plastic. In 2021, EU citizens generated an average of 35.9 kilograms of plastic waste per capita, 1.4 kilograms more than in the previous year. Compared to 2020, not only the amount of plastic packaging waste generated (up 4% per capita) but also the recycling of plastic packaging waste increased by 1.2 kilograms per inhabitant. According to Eurostat, this corresponds to an increase in recycling of 9.5% per capita compared to 2020. According to the figures, the overall recycling rate for plastic packaging rose to 39.7% after falling from 41.1% in 2019 to 37.6% in 2020 as a result of stricter calculation rules introduced in 2020. For Malta (20.5%), France (23.1%) and Sweden (23.8%), Eurostat reports declining recycling rates for plastic packaging waste in 2021. In Germany, Slovenia, Belgium and the Netherlands, on the other hand, around 50% of the plastic packaging waste generated there was recycled, according to Eurostat.
 
Sources:

• Kunststoff Information (Nov. 9, 2023)
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