European Union member states generated 2.3 million tonnes of textile waste in 2024, with household disposal accounting for more than half of the total volume.
That total marks a slight 0.91% decrease compared to 2022 figures, when 2.2 million metric tons were recorded across the bloc, according to data published by Modaes based on European Statistical Office numbers. Household disposal specifically made up more than half of the overall waste stream.
During the same year, the EU successfully treated 1.4 million tonnes of textile waste, according to Fibre2Fashion reporting. That treatment volume represents 63 percent of all textile waste generated across member nations in 2024.
Recovery operations handled 91 percent of those treated textiles. Specifically, recycling accounted for 78 percent of total treated textile waste, while incineration with energy recovery made up 13 percent.
Landfilling accounted for 8 percent of textile waste treatment. Incineration without energy recovery made up the remaining 1 percent of the processed volume.
Italy led the bloc in absolute terms by generating 441,736 tonnes of textile waste, representing a 6 percent increase compared to 2022. The country also recorded the highest volume treated at 280,680 tonnes.
France followed closely behind by generating 339,965 tonnes and treating 258,129 tonnes, marking a 2.4 percent decrease compared to the previous period analyzed. Germany generated 212,107 tonnes in 2024 and treated 207,156 tonnes, achieving a 9.4 percent reduction in waste generation compared to 2022.
Spain generated 120,079 metric tons of textile waste in 2024, recording a 9.1 percent rise compared to the 110,104 metric tons measured in 2022. Several other nations also saw sharp increases in their waste outputs.
| Country | 2024 Generation (Tonnes) | 2024 Treatment (Tonnes) | Notable Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Italy | 441,736 | 280,680 | +6% vs 2022 |
| France | 339,965 | 258,129 | -2.4% vs 2022 |
| Germany | 212,107 | 207,156 | -9.4% vs 2022 |
| Spain | 120,079 | Not reported | +9.1% vs 2022 |
Italy and France reported the highest individual shares of recycled textile waste at 98 percent each. Lithuania followed at 87 percent and Slovenia at 83 percent.
At the other end of the spectrum, Latvia reported zero textile recycling, while Estonia recycled 5 percent. Romania recorded 23 percent recycling based on data from 2022.
Cyprus, Ireland, and Luxembourg reported zero waste treatment overall. Data for Sweden and Malta remained confidential in the official statistical releases.
Meanwhile, the EU countries experiencing the largest overall increases in textile waste generation included Cyprus, Latvia, Malta, and Belgium. Those nations posted surges of 34.3 percent, 24.9 percent, 16 percent, and 14.2 percent, respectively, compared to the 2022 baseline.
