European Union | According to statistics over the year 2006, European glass recyclers collected 5.8% percentage points more container glass than the year before. If new and potential European member states would be included to the results, the rate falls to a 2.8% increase in the collection rate.
The figures which are released by European Container Glass Federation FEVE, show a world of differences between the achievements of European countries. The unrivalled champions in glass collection are Switzerland (96%), Sweden (92%) and Belgium (91%), but new European member states stay far behind; Hungaria picks just 18% out of the glass waste stream for recycling, Poland 28% and Slovakia 35%.
Of the major European countries, Germany ranks first with a collection rate of 89%, which stands for 2.5 million tonnes glass which is recycled into new applications. France (60%) and the United Kingdom lag far behind (50%). The potential EU countries show there still is a far way to go, as Romania ends the list with just 9% and Turkey 22%. Despite being an EU member, Greece found it place just above Romania with a 10% collection rate.
Acknowledgement
www.feve.org
