The road from landfilling to recycling: common destination, different routes

Each country‘s waste generation profile varies
according to numerous factors including economic
growth, population density and consumer
behaviour. Waste management choices depend
on the existing waste management facilities,
infrastructure and governance structures. EU waste
policy is instrumental for determining the potential
outcomes to be achieved, but country-level
policies determine the actual outcome. To gain
insights into whether a strategic shift in broader
waste management has occurred, the EEA is
analysing the approaches and combinations of
policy instruments that countries are taking in the
management of their municipal waste, particularly
in the context of the Landfill Directive.