Waste Management in European Countries: Indicators, Clustering, and Socioeconomic Implications

Abstract

Abstract. The work is aimed at analyzing approaches to waste management and dividing them into clusters. The objectives of the study were to determine indicators related to waste management and to investigate their relationship; analyze the main groups of waste management solutions used by European countries and identify waste management clusters according to the most important parameters. The work hypothesized that there are several common groups of decisions regarding waste management (recycling, incineration or disposal is preferred). Correlation, dispersion and cluster analysis (hierarchical and k-means) were performed. It was proved that there are a strong direct link between incineration and current health expenditure per capita, waste thermally treated in WtE plants and WtE plants, waste thermally treated in WtE plants and GDP, WtE plants amount and GDP. There is a strong inverse link between recycling and landfilling, incineration and landfilling, landfilling and current health expenditure per capita. At the same time, there are weak direct links between research indicators and life expectancy at birth, government expenditure on education. Three clusters were identified regarding waste management. Cluster 1 (Czech Republic, Hungary, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Estonia): recycling and landfilling are the main methods of waste management, with their help, about 80% is destroyed, an average of four WtE plants operate, and up to one t of waste is processed. Current health expenditure per capita exceeds GDP by 4.5 times. Cluster 2 (France, Germany, Italy, UK): they recycle about half of the waste, and the rest are incinerated or landfilled in certain proportions. On average, 76 WtE plants work in the countries and about 15 tons of waste are processed. Current health expenditure per capita exceeds GDP by 1.5 times. Cluster 3 (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland): with the help of recycling and incineration, almost all waste is removed, and up to 2% remains for landfill (except Ireland - 23%). On average, 16 WtE plants work in the countries and 3 tons of waste are processed. Current health expenditure per capita is the largest and exceeds GDP by 13.5 times. The results of this study can be used by government officials to develop recommendations for improving the waste management system in their country and by scientists for further research.

Cross-Cultural Adaptation of a Questionnaire Measuring Organizational Citizenship Behavior towards the Environment

“…On the other hand, Portugal has various programs to promote waste recycling, but some areas may face challenges in terms of waste management, while Slovakia has a systematic approach to waste recycling, with a built-in infrastructure for sorting and recycling. According to Khomenko et al (2023), both Portugal and Slovakia can be included in a common cluster in waste sorting together with the Czech Republic, Hungary, Lithuania, Poland, Spain, and Estonia. Recycling and landfilling are the main methods of waste management in these countries; they dispose of around 80% of waste.…”