The Catalan Waste Agency (ARC) has released the results of the municipal waste management report for 2023. Catalonia generated 3.77 million tonnes of municipal waste, a 1.7% decrease from 2022. The national Circular Economy Law sets a reduction goal of 13% by 2025 (from 2010 levels); Catalonia has already achieved a 14% reduction.
Selective waste collection increased to 46.7% of total waste, with 1.76 million tonnes collected, a 1.3% rise from 2022. However, in large cities, selective collection remains low, averaging 38.9%. Municipal waste generation per capita was 477 kg/year, down by 16 kg from the previous year. Efficient collection systems, such as door-to-door or closed-container models, are seen as key to further improvements. Among selective collections, light packaging saw a 11.4% increase, paper and cardboard rose by 1.1%, and glass increased by 0.85%. Organic waste decreased slightly by 1.77%. Mixed waste represented 53.3% of total municipal waste, or 2.01 million tonnes.