Cyprus recycled just 27.8% of its plastic packaging waste in 2024, placing it among the EU countries with the lowest recycling rates, according to data published by Eurostat on Thursday.
The country generated 23.31kg of plastic packaging waste per person during the year, of which 6.47kg was recycled.
Only Denmark, with a recycling rate of 22.5%, Finland at 26.9% and France at 27.4% recorded lower rates than Cyprus.
EU plastic recycling rate reaches 42.4%
Across the EU, an average of 35.9kg of plastic packaging waste was generated per person in 2024, of which 15.3kg was recycled.
Both the amount of plastic packaging waste generated and the amount recycled increased by 0.6kg per person compared with 2023.
The EU’s plastic packaging waste recycling rate rose to 42.4% in 2024, up from 41.6% in 2023.
Latvia recorded the highest rate among member states at 71%, followed by Belgium at 58.2%, Poland at 56% and Czechia at 53.7%.
Between 2014 and 2024, the amount of plastic packaging waste generated across the EU increased by 6.1kg per person, while the amount recycled rose by 3.4kg.
EU packaging waste continues to rise
The EU generated approximately 81.5 million tonnes of packaging waste in 2024, equivalent to 181kg per person.
This represented an increase of 3.2kg per person compared with 2023 and 19.6kg compared with 2014.
Paper and cardboard accounted for the largest share of packaging waste at 40.8%, followed by plastic at 19.9%, glass at 18.1%, wood at 16.2% and metal at 4.8%. Other materials accounted for the remaining 0.2%.
Also read: Erasmus+ 2028–2034: What’s in it for young people?
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