Eurostat − the European Union’s statistical office − has made data on municipal waste management in the 27 countries available to the general public. We learn that, as regards incineration and recycling, Italy (the second largest waste producing country in Europe) is still below the mean values.

The European municipal waste market has already reached a value of 42 billion dollars. According to recent estimates given out by Frost & Sullivan, the potential level by 2014 is 46 billion. The only market topping Italy is Germany, accounting for nearly 24% of the turnover. France is the third strategic ‘catchment area’.

Facts and figures for the Italian peninsula (2008 data): each citizen produces on average 561 kg of municipal waste per year. Of this waste, approx. 11% is incinerated and 11% recycled; 44% goes to dumps/landfill (this is 4% above the EU mean value). Among the states of the European Community, the mean quantity of waste incinerated comes to 20% (23% is recycled, the 34% which is biodegradable is composted).

Overall, Italy’s levels are on a par with the United Kingdom’s (the latter being at a more advanced stage for recycling) and France’s (France incinerates more waste). Germany produces most waste, but it shares a record with the Netherlands − both countries dispose of only 1% of their municipal waste by dump/landfill (the remaining 48% is recycled, 35% lands up in incinerators, and 17% is processed to produce fertilizers). Sweden and Austria also perform well (3% dump/landfill). Denmark’s and Belgium’s dump/landfill waste comes to 4 and 5%, respectively.

Statistical data source: Eurostat – Statistical office of the European Community