Materials and waste We need to stop throwing so much away, and start reducing, reusing and recycling more

Asking for better waste management for Europe

18 May 2013

In Europe, we currently waste over 500 kilograms of waste per person every year. And to make this worse, 60% of that waste ends up being landfilled or incinerated. [1]

Worryingly, incineration is still rising in Europe, and is being funded with taxpayers' money from the EU budget.

Austria, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Wales and Northern Ireland, Hungary
14 February 2013

Aluminium, cotton and lithium needlessly wasted - new report

Brussels, February 14, 2013 – Europe is failing to manage its resources sustainably, unnecessarily sending valuable materials to incineration and landfill, according to a report published today by Friends of the Earth Europe. [1]

The European Union currently landfills and incinerates 60% of municipal waste. Valuable materials which could be recycled or re-used are being thrown away as rubbish, contributing to demand for more raw materials.  

24 May 2012

Europe steps towards resource efficient future

As pressure on world's natural resources increases rapidly, European Parliament showed overwhelming support today for measuring Europe's use of resources, in a step towards a resource efficient future, including full incorporation of resource efficiency into the Europe 2020 economic agenda. However, Europe will not make the most of the environmental, economic and social benefits of resource efficiency without clear targets to reduce, in absolute terms, Europe's consumption of resources, according to Friends of the Earth Europe.

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Europe generates waste at an unsustainable rate. Most European countries still follow an unsustainable, wasteful pattern: extract resources, manufacture products, consume them, and then dispose of them, as cheaply as possible.

Friends of the Earth Europe campaigns for reducing, reusing and recycling – practices that are not only good for the planet, but create jobs and are positive for the economy.

More resources

Reports & publications

14 Feb 2013

Less is more: resource efficiency through waste collection, recycling and reuse

1 Sep 2010

Half a million new jobs could be created in Europe by recycling more

More reports & publications

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  • Michael Warhurst
  • Ariadna Rodrigo
    • Agriculture

      Food and farming in Europe and its global impacts

    • Agrofuels

      Plant-based fuels from agriculture. Also known as biofuels

    • Biodiversity

      Species and habitat protection in Europe and around the globe

    • GMOs

      Genetically modified crops and organisms

    • Land

      Measuring Europe’s land footprint and tackling the drivers of land grabbing

    • Biodiversity

      Species and habitat protection in Europe and around the globe

    • Extractive industries

      Oil and gas exploration, and mining

    • Land

      Measuring Europe’s land footprint and tackling the drivers of land grabbing

    • Materials and waste

      Reducing, reusing and recycling resources

    • Resource use

      Europe’s consumption of land, materials, water and carbon

    • Shale gas

      Unconventional gas and the extraction process known as ‘fracking’

    • Tar sands

      Unconventional oil. Also known as oil sands

    • Water use

      Measuring Europe’s water footprint