RezeroLab Data

GDP decoupling and waste production

Data from Catalunya

Waste production is a complex parameter that depends on many other variables, such as the economic situation, the legal instruments implemented, the evolution of environmental awareness among citizens, tourism, etc.
GDP is one of the parameters that is observed to have a closer relationship with waste generation: tf GDP increases, so does waste generation (the more wealth a territory has, the more waste it generates), and vice versa.

For this reason, decoupling economic growth from waste generation is one of the main European waste prevention strategies.

Evolution of the waste production and anual GDP of Catalonia

Source:Catalan Statistics Institute and Catalan Waste Agency
Graphics

GDP and waste generation in Catalonia have maintained a clear positive correlation over the last two decades. However, from 2017 onwards, waste generation stagnates and ends up decreasing between 2022 and 2023, while GDP continues to grow sharply, especially after the drop between 2019 and 2020, caused by the covid-19 crisis.

We will have to continue to monitor the evolution of the two parameters in the coming years to confirm that decoupling is starting to take place.

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