Some 72% of residual waste over the past two years could have been avoided or recycled, a new study finds, with a total of 15.6 tonnes of waste analysed across 15 municipalities in 2024 and 2025. These analyses have been carried out every three years since 1994, and over the past 30 years the amount of waste in the standard black bin has halved.
The trend is moving in the right direction, according to Environment Minister Serge Wilmes, who presented the new findings. However, waste sorting could still be significantly improved, or waste prevented altogether.
Biowaste accounts for the largest share of residual waste, at 57 kilos per person per year, equivalent to 37%. Of this, 35% could have been entirely avoided. Examples include packaged cheese, ham, bread, or a bag of potatoes.
Paper makes up 13% of residual waste. The amount of paper in the black bin has decreased by 29%. However, there has been a nearly 50% increase in paper bags being thrown away, along with a rise in paper waste from fast food restaurants. Slightly soiled paper can still be recycled and placed in the paper collection.
Plastic also remains too prevalent in residual waste, accounting for 11%. For every plastic bottle that ends up in the bin, the Luxembourg state must pay a fee.
In the short term, recycling rates for plastic and cans must reach 80%, rising to 90% in the long term. Luxembourg is close to this target for plastic at 77%, but cans lag behind at just 43%. Further efforts are needed, although Wilmes is not yet considering the introduction of a deposit return system.
Hazardous waste such as batteries and medicines is increasingly being recycled properly. However, 1.2 kilos per person still end up in household waste. Batteries, for instance, should be disposed of via the SuperDrecksKëscht system.
In municipalities where waste is weighed, 27 kilos less waste per person per year is produced. In other words, when disposal becomes more expensive for consumers, sorting improves or less waste is generated. Sorting is also easier in rural areas than in cities.
Ultimately, the best waste is the waste that is never produced in the first place, according to the study. Reducing food waste is therefore particularly important.
Find out how to sort correctly here.
