Cyprus recorded the EU’s lowest amount of collected waste electrical and electronic equipment per capita in 2024, at 4.7 kg, according to data published by Eurostat on Wednesday.
In the same year, 15.4 kg of new electrical and electronic equipment per capita was placed on the Cypriot market, also among the lowest amounts in the EU. Lower figures were recorded in Slovakia, at 17.5 kg, and Greece, at 18 kg per capita.
Across the EU, an average of 12.3 kg of waste electrical and electronic equipment per capita was collected in 2024, while 32.4 kg of new equipment per capita was placed on the market. This includes, among other items, household appliances, smartphones and computers.
Gap in figures
Eurostat says the significant difference between the two figures indicates an increase in the stock of electrical and electronic equipment. Such equipment may remain in use, be awaiting disposal, be stored in households, or enter informal and unmonitored waste-management processes.
From 2015 to 2024, the amount of electrical and electronic equipment placed on the EU market rose by 79%, from 18.1 to 32.4 kg per capita. Large equipment, such as washing machines, dishwashers and photovoltaic panels, was a key driver of the increase. Between 2022 and 2024, the amount of new equipment per capita remained almost unchanged.
Electronic waste collection increased at a slower pace, from 7.3 kg per capita in 2015 to 12.3 kg in 2024. Compared with 2023, the increase was 0.7 kg per capita.
Other countries
After Cyprus, the lowest collection amounts were recorded in Portugal, at 6 kg per capita, and Malta, at 6.4 kg. The largest amounts were collected in Bulgaria, at 18.9 kg per capita, Czechia, at 17.8 kg, and France, at 17.7 kg.
The highest amount of new electrical and electronic equipment placed on the market was recorded in Austria, at 38.2 kg per capita. Germany followed with 38 kg and Denmark with 37 kg.
Eurostat notes that in every country for which data were available, the weight of equipment placed on the market in 2024 was greater than the weight of waste collected.
The smallest difference was recorded in Slovakia, at 6.4 kg per capita. In Spain, 36 kg of equipment per capita was placed on the market and 9.3 kg of waste was collected, while in Germany the corresponding amounts were 38 kg of new equipment and 11 kg of waste. In both countries, the amount of equipment placed on the market was more than three times the amount collected as waste.
Source: CNA
