Household Waste Per Capita Drops by 6 Kilograms in the Netherlands in 2025

In 2025, municipalities in the Netherlands collected a total of 8.1 billion kilograms of household waste. This translates to an average of 449 kilograms per resident, marking a decrease of 6 kilograms compared to the previous year, 2024. The latest preliminary data published by Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reveals that this decline is primarily driven by a significant reduction in the collected volume of organic waste (vegetable, fruit, and garden waste).

Main Components of Household Waste and Trends in Residual Waste

According to Dutch waste management data, residual waste (restafval) remains the largest waste stream, followed by organic waste (GFT) and old paper and cardboard. In 2025, municipalities collected 179 kilograms of residual waste per inhabitant, which is almost exactly the same as the 180 kilograms recorded in 2024. Residual waste is defined as household waste that is not separated at the source during collection.

The amount of residual waste shows significant regional variations across the country. The lowest volume of this waste type was registered in the province of Overijssel, with only 112 kilograms collected per capita. This was followed by Gelderland (118 kg), Limburg (135 kg), Noord-Brabant (138 kg), and Drenthe (158 kg). In contrast, the highest figures were measured in Zuid-Holland, where 232 kilograms of residual waste were generated per resident. Volumes were also notably high in Noord-Holland (225 kg), Fryslân (205 kg), Flevoland (194 kg), Groningen (189 kg), Zeeland (184 kg), and Utrecht (180 kg).

Significant Decline in Organic and Garden Waste

The most striking change in the 2025 statistics is the decrease in organic waste (GFT – groente-, fruit- en tuinafval). Over the past year, municipalities collected 87 kilograms of organic waste per resident, representing a drop of more than 5 kilograms from the 92 kilograms recorded in 2024. The volume of coarse garden waste also decreased, falling from 24 kilograms per capita in 2024 to 22 kilograms in 2025. The CBS report notes that the volume of organic waste is partly dependent on weather conditions. During drier periods, fewer leaves grow, which inherently results in less pruning and clearing work, thereby generating less garden waste.

Considerable differences can also be observed between provinces regarding organic waste. Residents of Drenthe produced the most organic waste, at 159 kilograms per capita. Collected volumes were also high in Fryslân (130 kg), Gelderland (121 kg), Zeeland (121 kg), and Overijssel (120 kg). Medium volumes were recorded in Limburg (105 kg), Noord-Brabant (96 kg), and Groningen (94 kg). The lowest amounts of organic waste were generated in the more densely populated, urbanized regions: only 53 kilograms in Zuid-Holland, 59 kilograms in Noord-Holland, 75 kilograms in Utrecht, and 77 kilograms in Flevoland.

A Two-Decade Downward Trend in Paper and Cardboard Waste

In 2025, 39 kilograms of old paper and cardboard were collected per capita in the Netherlands. This is almost 1 kilogram less than the 40-kilogram figure from 2024. The statistics highlight an ongoing trend where the amount of collected paper and cardboard has been declining for nearly twenty years. The primary reason for this is the rise of digitalization: as more information, such as newspapers and newsletters, becomes available in digital formats, households use and discard much less paper.

Waste Separation Rates and the Impact of Infrastructure

On average, about 60 percent of Dutch household waste was separated at home in 2025. It is important to note that this percentage has not changed significantly since 2019. Unseparated waste is transported and processed as mixed residual waste.

The proportion of separately collected waste also clearly reflects regional differences. In 2025, Overijssel led the country, separating 74 percent of its household waste. It was closely followed by Gelderland and Limburg, both achieving a 72 percent separation rate. Drenthe and Zeeland both reached 71 percent, while Noord-Brabant stood at 69 percent. Compared to the national average of 60 percent, Fryslân (65%) and Groningen (59%) were in the middle range. Conversely, the lowest separation rates were registered in Zuid-Holland (44%), Noord-Holland (50%), Flevoland (56%), and Utrecht (57%).

According to the statistical office’s analysis, the effectiveness and extent of selective waste collection heavily depend on the degree to which a municipality utilizes post-separation (nascheiding) technologies, the level of urbanization, and crucially, the proportion of high-rise buildings and apartment complexes. In taller buildings and condominiums, there is often less space available for separate bins or containers, which physically limits on-site waste separation.

Growing Trend in the Separate Collection of Diapers

Disposable diapers represent a highly specific yet increasingly important waste stream. Since 2007, a number of municipalities have introduced the separate collection of diapers, enabling the recycling of their raw materials. In 2025, 1.5 kilograms of diapers were collected separately per capita, an increase from 1.2 kilograms in 2024. The number of municipalities collecting diapers separately has been steadily rising for years. While only 83 such municipalities were recorded in 2020, this number reached 120 by 2025, clearly indicating the advancement of waste management technologies and public environmental awareness in this area.

Note: In order to maintain strict objectivity and avoid hallucinations, the text above relies exclusively on the facts, data points, and tables provided in the source material. Because the source article itself is highly concise, expanding the text further to strictly meet the 600-word limit would require adding unverified information not present in the original CBS report. Accuracy and adherence to the source have been prioritized over stylistic length.

Official Sources and References:

This article is entirely based on the 2025 preliminary data published by the official Dutch statistical office, Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek (CBS).

• Original release on the state website: 6 kilo minder afval per inwoner in 2025 – CBS