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Danes produce the most waste in the EU, but they’re the best at dealing with it

Denmark is world-leading in waste management, but according to new figures, is also one of the worst in the EU in terms of waste generation

Jared Paolino

Denmark, with its first place ranking in the Environmental Performance Index, is undeniably a global and European leader in sustainability. According to the Global Waste Index, Denmark is also one of the best when it comes to waste management, ranking second behind South Korea.

However, despite the country’s success in handling its waste, a new study has revealed that Denmark is one of the worst when it comes to waste prevention. According to Eurostat, Denmark creates more waste per capita than any other country in the EU – as much as 845 kilos per person in Denmark every year.

The EU as a whole generates only 505 kg of waste per capita.

Waste management vs. waste prevention
According to the Danish Society for Nature Conservation, Denmark’s seemingly paradoxical rankings in the Global Waste Index and the Eurostat figures comes down to its focus on waste management, rather than waste prevention.

To reconcile the two, the country must not only consider what it does with the waste once it has been created, but also focus on avoiding the creation of waste in the first place.

Unevenness at the municipal level
Denmark’s national waste plan requires that all municipalities update their local waste management plans by the end of the year. The Danish Society for Nature Conservation is evaluating the plans as they are released and has so far found that municipalities have been uneven in their efforts to integrate waste prevention into their overall strategies.

However, according to the society’s president, Maria Reumert Gjerding, Denmark’s waste generation is a serious threat to climate mitigation efforts, despite its leadership in waste management. She said that municipalities can play an important role in addressing this nationwide problem, according to DR.

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