Each Netherlands resident produced 456 kg of waste last year

Last year, each Netherlands resident produced 456 kilograms of waste, on average. That is slightly less than a year earlier. The amount of organic and garden waste increased, while household residual waste and packaging glass decreased, Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reported.

In 2023, Dutch municipalities collected over 8.1 billion kilograms of household waste, about half a percent more than in 2022. The fact that the total waste increased, but the waste-per-resident decreased is because the population grew faster than the total amount of waste.

The amount of organic waste increased from 89 to 91 kilograms per resident to a total of 1.6 billion kilograms collected last year. According to CBS, organic waste is linked to rainfall, among other things. 2022 was a relatively dry year, which meant less leaf growth and pruning waste. Last year was pretty wet, so there was more garden waste.

Last year, municipalities collected 3.1 billion kilograms of household residual waste. That is 178 kg per resident, 2 percent less than 2022’s 182 kg per resident. That amounts to 20 kilograms per resident in 2023.

The amount of packaging glass collected dropped from 362 kg in 2022 to 354 kg in 2023. Zeeland and Limburg residents discarded a relatively large amount of glass, at 23 and 24 kilograms per inhabitant. Flevoland and Zuid-Holland residents discard the least glass at around 16 kg per inhabitant.