Country profile

Denmark

Waste generation, collection, composition, treatment and policy statistics for Denmark.

Indicator years 2021–2024Eur. & Cent. AsiaHIC

Municipal waste generated755kg per person · 2024 · Eurostat · municipal waste generated

Collection coverage100%2021 · World Bank What a Waste 3.0 · share of waste collected

Municipal recycling rate46.4%2024 · Eurostat · municipal recycling rate

Uncollected waste0%2021 · World Bank What a Waste 3.0 · reported treatment share

Open dumping—No published value

Sanitary landfill1.1%2021 · World Bank What a Waste 3.0 · reported treatment share

Waste composition

World Bank What a Waste 3.0 · 2021 · reported material shares

Garden and green waste24.1%

Food and organics23.4%

Paper and cardboard23.1%

Other materials11.6%

Plastic7.1%

Metal5.1%

Glass4.5%

Textiles1.2%

World Bank What a Waste 3.0 · 2021 · reported treatment and disposal shares

Incineration41.4%

Recycling in treatment mix31.2%

Composting26.3%

Sanitary landfill1.1%

Uncollected0%

National waste lawYes

National waste planNational Plan For Prevention And Management Of Waste 2020-2032

Responsible institutionMinistry of Environment of Denmark; Environmental Protection Agency

Producer responsibilityYes

EPR operating statusLegally-binding regulations in place

Deposit-return systemYes