Newly released data shows that 38 per cent of waste in Europe still went to landfill in 2010.
Eurostat figures show that among the EU27 nations, an average of 502kg of municipal waste was generated per person in 2010, while 486kg of municipal waste was treated per person.
Of this waste, 38 per cent was landfilled, 22 per cent was incinerated, 25 per cent recycled and 15 per cent composted.
Cypriots created the most municipal waste per person at 760kg, with Luxembourg, Denmark and Ireland all creating over 600kg per person. Netherlands, Malta, Austria, Germany, Spain, France and Italy all created more waste than the UK average of 521kg.
Germany was the best recycler of dry materials (not including composting or anaerobic digestion) with 45 per cent recycled. Belgium was next with 40 per cent, Slovenia 39 per cent, Sweden 36 per cent, Ireland 35 per cent and the Netherlands on 33 per cent.
The UK was some way behind on 25 per cent recycled, with 14 per cent of waste composted or sent for AD, 12 per cent incinerated and 49 per cent sent to landfill.
Bulgaria sends 100 per cent of its waste to landfill, while Germany, Netherlands and Switzerland send no waste to landfill.
If recycling and composting of municipal waste are put together, 70 per cent of this was treated in Austria, Belgium and Germany both were at 62 per cent, the Netherlands at 61 per cent and Sweden 50 per cent. The UK was on 39 per cent.
