Landfill waste

According to the EU’s waste hierarchy, landfilling is the least preferable option and should be limited to the necessary minimum.

In 2018, 24% of all municipal waste generated in the EU was landfilled. This can have dangerous effects on human health and on the environment. The generation of leachate can contaminate groundwater and methane is produced, which is a potent greenhouse gas. In addition, where recyclable waste is landfilled, materials are unnecessarily lost from Europe’s economy.

The Landfill Directive sets out strict operational requirements for landfill sites with the objective to protect both human health and the environment.

To support the EU’s transition to the circular economy, the Landfill Directive also

• introduces restrictions on landfilling of all waste that is suitable for recycling or other material or energy recovery from 2030
• limits the share of municipal waste landfilled to 10% by 2035
• introduces rules on calculating the attainment of municipal waste targets and requires EU countries to put in place an effective quality control and traceability system for municipal waste landfilled
• requires the European Commission, with the European Environment Agency, to draw up early warning reports 3 years before each deadline to identify shortcomings in attaining the targets and recommending action to be taken
• allows EU countries to use economic instruments and other measures to encourage applying the waste hierarchy

Landfills are divided into

• landfills for hazardous waste
• landfills for non-hazardous waste
• landfills for inert waste

The Directive sets specific operational requirements such as permitting, waste acceptance, technical requirements in the operational and after-care phases and reporting

• EU countries must implement national strategies to progressively reduce the amount of biodegradable waste sent to landfills
• landfill facilities may not accept used tyres or waste which is liquid, flammable, explosive or corrosive, or from hospitals and medical and veterinary practices
• only waste that has been treated may be landfilled
• national authorities must ensure that the price operators charge for disposing of waste covers all the costs involved from opening to final closure of the site

The Landfill Directive aims to protect both human health and the environment. In particular, it aims to prevent, or reduce as much as possible, any negative impact from landfill on surface water, groundwater, soil, air and human health. It does this by introducing rigorous operational and technical requirements.

• Landfill Directive
• Landfill Directive (consolidated version)
• Summary of Landfill Directive
• Waste Framework Directive

Secondary law

• Decision establishing criteria and procedures for the acceptance of waste at landfills
• Decision laying down rules for the calculation, verification and reporting of data on landfill of municipal waste

EU countries must send reports on the implementation of the Landfill Directive to the European Commission every three years. These must be based on a specific questionnaire.

In 2018, a review on the implementation of EU waste legislation (including waste sent to landfill) was published.

The EU’s guidance on landfill gas control is non-binding and aims to

• help competent authorities improve methane collection through the enforcement of the Landfill Directive requirements
• provide clarity on landfill gas control requirements within the context of the technical and regulatory requirements of the landfill directive
• set out the most important criteria in ensuring effective collection, treatment and use of landfill gas

Evaluation

By 31 December 2024, the Commission shall review the 2035 10% target with a view to

• maintaining or, if appropriate, reducing it
• considering quantitative target per capita on landfilling
• introducing restrictions to the landfilling of non-hazardous waste other than municipal waste

Visit Eurostat for statistics on waste generation and treatment, including landfilling.

Key dates related to the Landfill Directive

• Commission report on national strategies for reducing biodegradable waste going to landfills and annex
• Follow-up study on the implementation of the Landfill Directive
• Awareness-raising events on the implementation of the Landfill Directive (2007)
• Awareness-raising events on the implementation of the Landfill Directive (2008)
• Study on the implementation of the Landfill Directive and Annexes
• Assessing legal compliance with and implementation of the waste acceptance criteria and procedures and Annexes
• Assessing legal compliance with and implementation of the waste acceptance criteria and procedures and Annexes
• Study on waste management options and climate change and Executive summary 
• Study on Economic Valuation of Environment Externalities from Landfill Disposal and Incineration of Waste and Annex

Main law: Landfill Directive

Entry into force: 16 July 1999

Related topics: Chemicals Circular economy Industrial emissions Waste and recycling

Related strategies: Circular economy action plan European industrial strategy EU Methane Strategy

Related Commission priorities: European Green Deal

For questions about EU environmental policy, please contact Europe Direct.