Significant increase of waste from economic activities after the pandemic: +12.2%

ISPRA publishes the Special Waste from economic activities 2023 Edition

After the stop of economic activities due to the pandemic crisis, in 2021 there was significant growth in the production of waste from economic activities, which reached 165 million tonnes. The 12.2% increase corresponds to about 18 million tons. The recovery in the industrial, craft and service sectors marks an increase in waste generated by production activities.

Almost half (47.7%) comes from construction and demolition activities (78.7 million tons), a sector which is confirmed as the main one in the total production of waste from economic activities. The percentage of recycling (80.1%) is significant for this type of waste, largely exceeding the target of 70% set by the legislation for 2020.