Spanish Waste Generation Increased by 7.1 Percent in 2024
New data from the National Statistics Institute shows higher waste volumes nationwide, with Galicia registering below-average per capita collection rates.
The Spanish economy generated 120.7 million tons of waste in 2024, marking a 7.1 percent increase compared to the previous year, according to figures released by the National Statistics Institute (INE). Of the total volume produced during the period, 3.6 million tons were classified as hazardous materials, which represents a 7.3 percent rise from 2023 levels. Meanwhile, non-hazardous waste accounted for 117.1 million tons, reflecting a matching 7.1 percent growth.
Mineral substances formed the largest share of the total waste generated at 55.7 million tons, followed by mixed waste at 36.5 million tons, and animal and vegetable matter at 9.4 million tons. Among hazardous materials, chemical residues comprised 44.6 percent, discarded equipment represented 32.9 percent, and mineral residues constituted 19.1 percent. Overall, 97 percent of all generated waste was categorized as non-hazardous.
Business sectors and economic activities were responsible for 81.6 percent of the total waste generated in 2024, while households accounted for the remaining 18.4 percent. Industrial activities, including mining and energy production, experienced the sharpest surge in waste output with a 30.4 percent increase. The construction sector produced the largest portion of activity-based waste at 36.7 percent of the total, followed by water supply, sanitation, waste management, and decontamination activities at 19.5 percent.
For households acting as final consumers, waste output increased by 1.6 percent compared to 2023. Mixed waste made up the vast majority of residential refuse at 79 percent of the household total. Across the country, municipal waste management companies collected 23.3 million tons of municipal refuse throughout the year, a 3.5 percent increase from the prior year.
On a per capita basis, municipal waste collection across Spain averaged 476.5 kilograms per inhabitant in 2024, representing a 2.5 percent increase. This figure comprised 347.5 kilograms of mixed waste and 129 kilograms of separately collected materials. The Balearic Islands recorded the highest municipal waste collection rate per person at 672.1 kilograms, whereas the Community of Madrid reported the lowest at 384.9 kilograms per resident.
Regional figures showed that Galicia fell below the national average for per capita waste collection, recording 440.5 kilograms per inhabitant. The Galician community gathered nearly 1.2 million tons of waste in total, which included 933,600 tons of mixed waste, 85,600 tons of paper and cardboard, 55,100 tons of glass, and 34,700 tons of mixed packaging.
In terms of overall municipal totals by region, Andalusia led the country with 4.8 million tons collected, followed by Catalonia with 3.6 million tons, and the Valencia region and the Community of Madrid with 2.7 million tons each. Andalusia gathered the most paper and cardboard at 489,900 tons, Catalonia collected the most glass at 193,200 tons, and Madrid recorded the highest collection of mixed packaging at 227,700 tons.
Final waste treatment facilities handled 99.8 million tons in 2024, marking a 7.9 percent increase from 2023. Of the processed total, 53.6 percent was directed to recycling, 30.8 percent was deposited in landfills, 11.3 percent was utilized in backfilling operations, and 4.3 percent underwent incineration.