site.btaEU Recovered More Waste in 2020, Bulgaria Recycled 8% of Its

Since 2004, the amount of waste recovered has increased significantly, from 870 million tonnes in 2004 to 1, 221 million tonnes in 2020. This means that the share of recovery in total waste treatment rose significantly, from 46% in 2004 to 60% in 2020; from 100 to 140 index points, said Eurostat here on Tuesday.

In total, some 2, 029 million tonnes of waste were treated in the EU in 2020. More than half (60%) was treated in recovery operations: recycling (39% of total treated waste), backfilling (15%) or energy recovery (6%). The remaining 40% was either landfilled (31%), incinerated without energy recovery (1%) or disposed of otherwise (8%). 

Very high recycling rates were recorded in Italy (83%), Belgium (74%), Slovakia and Latvia (both 64%). On the other hand, disposal via landfill and other was the prevailing treatment category for other countries: Romania (93% landfill, 5% recycling), Bulgaria (92% landfill, 8% recycling) and Finland (84% landfill - 10% recycling).