The chart depicts four different waste treatment methods across various countries in Europe. Overall, most southern European countries heavily rely on landfills to manage waste, except for countries in the north and west, where recycling and composting approaches are more common than others.
Taking a closer look at the chart, a vast majority of waste in Greece, Iceland, and the UK, ranging from 80% to 90%, is disposed of in landfills. This is followed by other countries, namely Italy, Portugal, Spain, and Finland, which make up around 60%. In contrast, this method is less common in most southern and western countries, where only about 10% to 30% of total waste is handled by landfills.
Additionally, recycled and composted methods are prioritized most in Austria to manage roughly 60% of its waste, indicating the highest number. This practice is also significantly preferred in several northern countries, which account for approximately 40%. Conversely, the number for countries in the south is negligible, with nearly 10% to 20% of the total waste being reused and converted into fertilizers.
Turning to incineration, both Denmark and Luxembourg take the lead in all categories, with 60% of waste treated in this way. About 40% of the waste in France, Sweden, and the Netherlands undergoes a heat process, while the figures for the other countries surveyed are roughly 10%. Other methods are the least utilized, only in Spain, Austria, Belgium, and Sweden.