Waste and circular economyAnalysis
Municipal waste recycling and landfilling levels: the 2025, 2030 and 2035 targets and Eurostat data
The EU requires 55, 60 and 65% preparation for re-use and recycling of municipal waste by 2025, 2030 and 2035, and landfilling below 10% by 2035. We set the targets against Eurostat data for Poland.
Other language versions: polski.
The EU municipal waste recycling targets are 55% by 2025, 60% by 2030 and 65% by 2035, and in addition municipal waste landfilled must not exceed 10% by 2035. Polish municipalities have these thresholds broken down into successive years in the Act on Maintaining Cleanliness and Order in Municipalities. According to Eurostat data Poland remains clearly below the EU average, although the share of landfilling has fallen.
EU targets and Polish thresholds for municipalities
| Year | EU recycling target | Level for municipalities in the Act |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | — | 45% |
| 2025 | 55% | 55% |
| 2030 | 60% | 60% |
| 2035 | 65% | 65% (and every following year) |
Landfilling levels for municipalities: no more than 30% in 2025–2029, 20% in 2030–2034 and 10% from 2035. The recycling level is the ratio of the mass of municipal waste prepared for re-use and recycled to the mass of municipal waste generated (excluding construction and demolition waste other than hazardous), and the landfilling level is the ratio of the mass of municipal waste and waste arising from its processing sent to landfill to the mass of municipal waste generated.
The full path for municipalities
| Year | Recycling (min.) | Year | Recycling (min.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 20% | 2029 | 59% |
| 2022 | 25% | 2030 | 60% |
| 2023 | 35% | 2031 | 61% |
| 2024 | 45% | 2032 | 62% |
| 2025 | 55% | 2033 | 63% |
| 2026 | 56% | 2034 | 64% |
| 2027 | 57% | 2035 onwards | 65% |
| 2028 | 58% |
The jump from 35% to 55% in 2023–2025 is the biggest step in the whole schedule, and it is this period that brings the hardest test for municipalities and installations.
What the Eurostat data show
The “recycling rate of municipal waste” indicator (CEI wm011) in per cent:
| Year | Poland | EU-27 |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 38.7 | 48.5 |
| 2021 | 40.3 | 49.7 |
| 2022 | 40.9 | 49.1 |
| 2023 | 27.6 | 47.9 |
| 2024 | 31.1 | 49.4 |
Two conclusions. First, the distance to the EU average is large, and to the country’s own threshold for 2025 (55%) — larger still. Second, the series for Poland has a drop in 2023, and such a movement in statistics does not have to mean a real deterioration — with such changes it is worth checking Eurostat’s metadata and national reports, because the reporting and calculation rules may have changed. Municipalities are assessed under national rules, which need not give an identical result.
Landfilling
Eurostat data on municipal waste (generated and landfilled or otherwise disposed of, kg per capita) show that in Poland the share of landfilling and other disposal fell from about 40% in 2020 to about 38% in 2022 and about 30% in 2023 and 2024. The EU average is about 23% in 2020 and about 21% in 2024 (own calculations based on Eurostat data). This is a direction consistent with the 10% target in 2035, but the distance remains considerable.
Why it is so hard to reach 55–65%
- Quality of separate collection. Contaminated fractions have rejects, which do not count towards recycling.
- Biowaste. Its separate collection is mandatory, but contamination with plastic and glass makes composting and fermentation harder.
- Infrastructure. Sorting plants, composting plants and biogas plants need stable streams and long contracts.
- Methodology. What counts towards the levels is the mass that has actually been recycled, not just the mass collected.
- Changes in the legal environment. The deposit return system and extended producer responsibility move part of the packaging outside the collection run by municipalities.
In its letter of 18 December 2025 the Ministry of Climate and Environment pointed out that legislative effort should focus on supporting municipalities in achieving ever higher recycling levels.
What this means for biogas and biowaste
The Act regards anaerobic treatment of biowaste as organic recycling, so biogas plants that receive the bio fraction from separate collection and manage the digestate lawfully increase a municipality’s result. Two conditions: good quality of deliveries (little contamination) and a documented fate of the digestate. Municipalities with well-functioning bio collection have the easiest route to higher levels, because biowaste is a large part of the municipal stream.
Four questions for your own municipality
- What recycling and landfilling level did the municipality report in its last report, and how does it compare with the path in the Act?
- What share does biowaste have in the separately collected mass, and what is its quality?
- Where do biowaste, sorting residues and mixed waste go (the municipality publishes this information on its website)?
- What investments in sorting plants, composting plants, biogas plants or incinerators are included in waste management plans?
How to read these figures
- Check whether it refers to a “national”, “EU” or “municipal” level — they have different methodologies.
- Compare years using the same method; jumps in a series require explanation.
- Remember that the recycling target and the landfilling target are two different indicators.
- Data for 2025 will only appear later — conclusions on meeting the 55% target are best based on official reports.
This text is for information only and does not constitute legal advice; before an investment or formal decision, check the current wording of the regulations and consult a lawyer or the competent authority.
Sources
- Eurostat — wskaźnik CEI wm011: recykling odpadów komunalnych (dane pobrane z API Eurostatu)
- Ustawa o utrzymaniu czystości i porządku w gminach — art. 3b (tekst jednolity, Dz.U. 2025 poz. 733) — ISAP/ELI
- Dyrektywa 2008/98/WE w sprawie odpadów (art. 11) — EUR-Lex
- Odpowiedź Ministerstwa Klimatu i Środowiska na petycję (18 grudnia 2025 r.) — gov.pl
Questions and answers
Are Eurostat data and the national calculations for municipalities the same?
They need not be. The calculation rules for municipalities arise from national regulations, while Eurostat publishes data reported by countries according to the EU methodology; in Poland the Eurostat series shows a sharp change in 2023, which should be checked in the metadata before drawing conclusions.
What are the EU recycling targets for municipal waste?
The Waste Framework Directive requires preparing for re-use and recycling of municipal waste of at least 55% by 2025, 60% by 2030 and 65% by 2035, and the Landfill Directive requires municipal waste landfilling to be limited to 10% by 2035.
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