Italy, European leader in recycling, 86% waste compared to the EU average of 41%

Italy remains a leader in the EU for recycling. In 2022, the Union recycled 41% of waste, Italy 86%, Germany 44%, France 52%. This is supported by the Report for the States General of the Green Economy, organized by the Edo Ronchi Sustainable Development Foundation at the Ecomondo fair in Rimini.

The circular material use rate in 2024 (the share of material recycled and reintroduced into the economy compared to the overall use of material) was 21.6% in Italy, 12.2% in the EU, 17.8% in France and 14.8% in Germany. In 2025, Italy recycled 77.3% of its packaging waste.

The productivity of resources in 2025 in the EU was 3 euros of GDP for each kilo of material used, in Italy 4.6 euros per kilo, in Germany 3.9, in France and Spain 3.8 euros per kilo. But Italy's dependence on material imports is still too high: in 2025 it was 47.1%, compared to the EU average of 22.1% and Germany's of 39.7%.