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Catalonia facing the European challenge in municipal waste management

Challenges, opportunities and proposals for moving towards the circular economy
1 January 2026 by

CATALONIA FACING THE EUROPEAN CHALLENGE IN MUNICIPAL WASTE MANAGEMENT: CHALLENGES, OPPORTUNITIES AND PROPOSALS

Municipal waste management is one of the major environmental and social challenges of our time. European directives have established a demanding regulatory framework that obliges member states to move towards a circular economy, reduce waste generation and minimise the environmental impact of treatment systems. Catalonia, as part of this European commitment, faces a complex scenario that requires bold decisions and comprehensive strategies.

A regulatory framework with ambitious targets

The Waste Framework Directive (2008/98/EC) and its subsequent amendments (Directives 2018/850 and 2018/851) establish a clear hierarchy: prevention, reuse, recycling, energy recovery and, as a last resort, landfill disposal. It also sets very demanding quantitative targets:

  • Recycling of 55% by 2025, 60% by 2030 and 65% by 2035.
  • Reduction of landfilling to a maximum of 10% by 2035.

These targets respond to the need to reduce pressure on natural resources, cut greenhouse gas emissions and move towards a circular economic model. But what is Catalonia's starting point?

The current situation: far from the European targets

According to data from the Agència de Residus de Catalunya (the Catalan Waste Agency), gross separate collection (RSB) stood at 45.9% in 2020, with very slow improvement over the last decade (only 5 percentage points in 10 years). Comparing this figure with the European targets, it is clear that the current pace will not allow the 55% recycling target for 2025 or the 65% target for 2035 to be met.

As regards final disposal, 34% of municipal waste still ends up in controlled landfills, more than three times the European limit of 10%. This situation is aggravated by the insufficient capacity of alternative infrastructure and by the lack of significant progress in prevention and reuse.

Why are we not making enough progress?

The report by the Enginyers Industrials de Catalunya (the Catalan association of industrial engineers) identifies several factors:

  • Insufficient prevention policies: waste generation continues to grow, and falls only in exceptional situations such as economic crises or pandemics.
  • Product design that is far from circular: many products are not designed to be reused or recycled.
  • Inefficient separate collection: the open-container model hits a “glass ceiling” at around 45%-50%, with high levels of non-target materials.
  • Limited infrastructure: despite progress in mechanical-biological treatment (MBT) plants, there is still a large volume of reject waste that ends up in landfill.

What are the keys to reversing the trend?

The report proposes a set of measures that could make the difference:

1. A paradigm shift in collection

We need to commit to systems that individualise user behaviour, such as door-to-door collection or closed containers with user identification. These models have demonstrated significant increases in the quality and quantity of separate collection, although they entail logistical and social challenges.

2. Boosting prevention and ecodesign

The best way to reduce waste is to prevent it from being generated. This means:

  • Regulating product design so that products are durable, repairable and recyclable.
  • Promoting reuse and repair through tax incentives and awareness campaigns.
  • Reducing the consumption of single-use plastics and establishing deposit-refund schemes (SDDR) for packaging.

3. Energy recovery as a key element

Waste-to-energy (WtE) plants are essential for treating waste that cannot be recycled. In Catalonia, these facilities currently process some 735,000 tonnes a year, but their future is uncertain because of the legal provision that foresees their decommissioning. The report warns that removing this option would entail a drastic increase in landfill use, with serious environmental and economic consequences.

Energy recovery also contributes to the energy transition: more than 50% of the energy generated is renewable, and it displaces fossil fuels, reducing CO₂ emissions. New technologies such as hydrogen production and carbon capture and utilisation can turn these plants into low-climate-impact facilities.

4. Expanding and modernising infrastructure

Although the aim is to minimise landfill use, its availability must be guaranteed as a last resort. The current scenario indicates that capacity is insufficient and that it will have to be expanded if waste management is not to be compromised.

A challenge that is also an opportunity

Waste management is not only a legal obligation but also an opportunity to transform our economic and social model. Moving towards the circular economy means reducing dependence on imported resources, creating jobs in green sectors and improving environmental quality.

But this transition requires political leadership, corporate commitment and citizen involvement. Without a real change in consumption habits, in product design and in infrastructure planning, Catalonia will not be able to meet the European targets or contribute effectively to the fight against climate change.

Conclusion: The European directives point the way, but time is running out. Catalonia needs a comprehensive strategy combining prevention, recycling and energy recovery, with realistic and ambitious planning. Only then will we be able to turn the challenge into an opportunity for a more sustainable future.

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