Circular economy indicators, 2021

More municipal waste generated

In recent years, there has been a noticeable upward trend in the generation of municipal waste. In 2021, 518 kg per capita were generated, which is 29 kg more than in the previous year. Excluding major mineral wastes, in 2021 the amounts of waste generated per GDP unit remained at the same level as a year earlier. Generation of waste excluding major mineral wastes per domestic material consumption also remained at the same level. In 2021, food waste generation decreased minimally compared to the previous year and amounted to just over 143,000 tonnes.

The recycling rate of wooden packaging highest in the five-year period

The latest available data for the recycling rate of wooden packaging are for 2020, when it was 37.3%, 15.1 percentage points higher than a year earlier. At that time, the recycling rate of overall packaging was 0.8 of a percentage point higher than a year earlier. The recycling rate of plastic packaging was higher by 0.1 of a percentage point. In 2020, the former was 67.9% and the latter 50.4%. In 2021, the recycling rate of municipal waste was 59.9%.

In 2020, the recycling rate of e-waste (electrical and electronic waste equipment) decreased compared to 2019 by 3.8 percentage points to 33.2%. Recycling of biowaste in kg per capita increased in 2021 compared to the previous year by 2.3 kg to 72.2 kg per capita. In 2021, the recovery rate of construction and demolition waste was the lowest in the observed 2016–2021 period and amounted to 87%.

Circular material use rate down again

The circular material use rate decreased for the second consecutive year and amounted to 10.4% in 2021. This is 0.2 of a percentage point less than in the previous year and 0.5 of a percentage point less than in 2019. 

In 2021, exports of recyclable raw materials (waste and by-products) decreased compared to 2020 by 43%. Exports to Turkey strongly dominated. Imports of recyclable raw materials increased in total by 6%. Imports from EU Member States increased from 903,235 tonnes to 947,671 tonnes or by 5%. Most of the trade was made with neighbouring countries and Germany. Austria, Croatia, Italy and Germany together represented two thirds of imports from EU Member States. Italy represented the largest share with 19%. Imports from non-EU countries increased from 85,097 tonnes to 98,295 tonnes or by 16%.

Lower share of persons employed in circular economy sectors
 
In 2021, the share of persons employed in circular economy sectors was 1.89%. This is a 0.03 of a percentage point decrease compared to the previous year and 0.20 of a percentage point less than in 2016. For calculating the mentioned indicator, we compare the share of persons employed in recycling, repair and reuse sectors in terms of economic activity with total employment. Value added at factor cost in these activities is calculated on GDP at current prices and in 2021 was 1.31%. This is by 0.05 of a percentage point more than in the previous year. 

Tables with the latest data are available in the SiStat Database.