Municipal waste as a measure of the representation of the circular economy in European countries

Grujić Vučkovski, Biljana and Subić, Jonel (2026) Municipal waste as a measure of the representation of the circular economy in European countries. In: Proceedings Book from Third International Scientific Conference ”Challenges of Digitalization in the Green Economy”, Belgrade, October 30, 2025. ALFA BK University, Belgrade, pp. 167-176. ISBN 978-86-6461-101-5

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Abstract

The paper analyzes the generation and treatment of municipal waste in the European Union (EU) and the countries of Europe from 2010 to 2022, with a focus on: the amount of waste per capita (kg per capita), the structure of waste depending on economic activity (percentage), the share of treated waste in the total generated waste (percentage), as well as the structure of applied operations in waste disposal (percentage). We consider these indicators extremely important because they are ne- cessary for greater representation of the circular economy. The main source of data for this research is the internationally recognized EUROSTAT database, and the data were downloaded electronically. Descriptive statistics methods were applied in the research, which showed that the average amount of municipal waste ranged from 273 kg per capita in Romania to 754 kg per capita in Denmark, which indicates pronounced differences in consumption patterns and efficiency of resource management. The highest average share of treated waste according to economic activities at the EU level was recorded in construction, while waste originating from agriculture, forestry and fishing has a negligible share. Most European countries fully treat generated municipal waste and have mechanisms for municipal waste treatment that differ depending on the observed country and region. The analysis also reveals uneven progress towards circular economy goals, with some countries recording a high degree of material recovery, while others still depend on traditional disposal methods. The results highlight the need for further investments in modern waste treatment technologies and harmonization of policies among member states, in order to accelerate the transition to a sustainable and circular system.

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