EU households generated 368kg of waste per inhabitant in 2010, according to a report issued by Eurostat, ranging from 202kg in Norway to 824kg in Portugal. Maltese households generated around 500kg.

Out of 2.5 billion tonnes of total waste (which includes mineral waste), 255 milllion tonnes are recyclable, of which 185 million tonnes are household waste.

The report shows a number of noticeable trends with regard to the origin of waste, with a marked decrease in manufacturing waste, and an increase in that generated by waste and water management.

Only 40 per cent of the EU average waste landfilled comes from households – but in Malta, 94 per cent does

The amount of waste differs dramatically, as a result of structural differences between the countries. The lowest amount was 588kg in Latvia, while the highest was 8,556kg in Estonia, mostly due to combustion waste due to energy production.

Household waste has been diminishing steadily since 2004 thanks to the increased amount of separation at source.

Eurostat also reported on the disposal of waste, noting that according to EU principles, this should be the ‘last resort’ of waste management.

Malta landfilled 517kg per inhabitant, slightly above the EU average of 427kg. The countries with the lowest per capita amount were Denmark and the Netherlands, with just 53kg, and the highest was 6,170kg in Estonia. However, the picture is not as good for Malta when that amount is broken down by the origin of the waste.

Only 40 per cent of the EU average waste landfilled comes from households – but in Malta, 94 per cent does.