Recycling can fight climate change

13 March 2008

A new study commissioned by EEB and FOEE explains how much recycling can fight climate change. The study, conducted by German consultancy Ökopol, calculates for the first time the CO2 emission reduction potential of establishing EU-wide legally binding recycling targets for municipal solid waste. 

Currently, EU countries recycle on average around 37% of their municipal waste. However, there are large variations between the different Member States. Right now, the Netherlands recycles 63%, one of four EU countries already recycling over 50%. Current European recycling reduces the equivalent of 158 million tonnes of CO2 annually, or like taking roughly 55 million cars off European roads.

The new research shows that establishing EU-wide legally binding recycling targets of 50% for municipal solid waste by 2020 could save even more greenhouse gases, equivalent to more than 247 million tonnes (mt) of CO2 equivalent per year. This is equivalent to taking 87 million cars off the road. The study also calculates the climate benefits of waste prevention, and finds that if waste volumes were stabilised at 2006 levels, a total of 1.1 billions tonnes of CO2 equivalents would be saved by 2020.

Why is recycling important?

Recycling allows the efficient use of materials, reducing the environmental impacts of producing virgin materials and transporting them long distances to be used in products bought on our European shop shelves. For example, making aluminium from recycled materials uses around 85% less energy than making it from virgin materials.

How can recycling benefit our climate?

Energy is needed to mine, extract and produce primary materials, and to transport them to production facilities, resulting in greater energy demand for virgin materials than recycled materials. Creating a materials loop with recycling is therefore more beneficial for the climate than simply burning waste or putting it in landfill.

Prevention even better than recycling

If recycling is a good option, preventing waste in the first place is even better for the climate. Preventing the use of materials saves on energy costs in extraction, manufacture and transport, all with big climate benefits. Unfortunately, the amount of waste we create in Europe keeps increasing, so we need to start by at least setting a target of stabilising our waste generation.

See full study