Municipal waste recycled in Romania

Romania: Municipal waste recycled was 722,000 tonnes in 2023. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2023)
722,000 tonnes
Change on year
up 1.4%
World rank
39th
of 90 countries
All-time high
811,000 tonnes
in 2010
All-time low
0 tonnes
in 2000
Years of data
24
2000–2023

Municipal waste recycled in Romania, 2000–2023

0200.0k400.0k600.0k800.0k2000201120232000: 0 tonnes2001: 123.0k tonnes2002: 170.0k tonnes2003: 17.0k tonnes2004: 84.0k tonnes2005: 145.0k tonnes2006: 41.0k tonnes2007: 37.0k tonnes2008: 75.0k tonnes2009: 82.0k tonnes2010: 811.0k tonnes2011: 610.0k tonnes2012: 745.0k tonnes2013: 670.0k tonnes2014: 648.0k tonnes2015: 650.0k tonnes2016: 689.0k tonnes2017: 745.0k tonnes2018: 586.0k tonnes2019: 623.0k tonnes2020: 683.0k tonnes2021: 710.0k tonnes2022: 712.0k tonnes2023: 722.0k tonnes

Source: United Nations Statistics Division and United Nations Environment Programme – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.

Analysis

Romania recorded 722,000 tonnes for municipal waste recycled in 2023.

That represents a change of up 1.4% on the previous year and up 7.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, municipal waste recycled in Romania peaked at 811,000 tonnes in 2010 and was at its lowest, 0 tonnes, in 2000.

That places Romania 39th out of 90 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Municipal waste recycled in Romania, year by year

Annual values for Municipal waste recycled in Romania, 2000 to 2023.
Year tonnes Change
2000 0 tonnes
2001 123,000 tonnes
2002 170,000 tonnes +38.2%
2003 17,000 tonnes -90.0%
2004 84,000 tonnes +394.1%
2005 145,000 tonnes +72.6%
2006 41,000 tonnes -71.7%
2007 37,000 tonnes -9.8%
2008 75,000 tonnes +102.7%
2009 82,000 tonnes +9.3%
2010 811,000 tonnes +889.0%
2011 610,000 tonnes -24.8%
2012 745,000 tonnes +22.1%
2013 670,000 tonnes -10.1%
2014 648,000 tonnes -3.3%
2015 650,000 tonnes +0.3%
2016 689,000 tonnes +6.0%
2017 745,000 tonnes +8.1%
2018 586,000 tonnes -21.3%
2019 623,000 tonnes +6.3%
2020 683,000 tonnes +9.6%
2021 710,000 tonnes +4.0%
2022 712,000 tonnes +0.3%
2023 722,000 tonnes +1.4%

Romania compared with similar countries

  • Romania's 722,000 tonnes is below the median for high income countries, which is 948,000 tonnes, 76% of the median. (57 countries reporting)
  • Romania's 722,000 tonnes is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 1.06 million tonnes, 68% of the median. (42 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Municipal waste recycled in Romania changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.

YearChange FromTo
2010 +889.0% 82,000 tonnes 811,000 tonnes
2004 +394.1% 17,000 tonnes 84,000 tonnes

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 77,400 tonnes 0 tonnes 170,000 tonnes 10
2010s 677,700 tonnes 586,000 tonnes 811,000 tonnes 10
2020s 706,750 tonnes 683,000 tonnes 722,000 tonnes 4

Countries ranked near Romania

  1. 36 Argentina 1.04 million tonnes compare
  2. 37 Brazil 1.02 million tonnes compare
  3. 38 Greece 948,000 tonnes compare
  4. 40 Croatia 660,000 tonnes compare
  5. 41 Slovenia 656,000 tonnes compare
  6. 42 United Arab Emirates 650,901 tonnes compare

See the full ranking of 90 places →

More environment data for Romania

All data for Romania →

Frequently asked questions

What is municipal waste recycled in Romania?
Municipal waste recycled in Romania was 722,000 tonnes in 2023, according to United Nations Statistics Division and United Nations Environment Programme – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest municipal waste recycled recorded in Romania?
The highest recorded value was 811,000 tonnes in 2010.
What is the lowest municipal waste recycled recorded in Romania?
The lowest recorded value was 0 tonnes in 2000.
How does Romania rank for municipal waste recycled?
Romania ranks 39th out of 90 countries with data for 2023.
Is municipal waste recycled rising or falling in Romania?
Over the last ten years it is up 7.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Romania data come from?
The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division and United Nations Environment Programme – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Municipal waste recycled. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).

Share, cite or embed this page

Cite this page

Municipal waste recycled in Romania. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division and United Nations Environment Programme – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 24 September 2026, from https://environment.statizoid.com/stat/municipal-waste-recycled/romania/

Embed or link this data

Paste this into a page to link back to these figures. The data itself is free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data); please keep the attribution.

<a href="https://environment.statizoid.com/stat/municipal-waste-recycled/romania/">Municipal waste recycled in Romania</a> — Statizoid

About this data

Indicator
Municipal waste recycled
Unit
tonnes
Source
United Nations Statistics Division and United Nations Environment Programme – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
90 places, 1,516 data points, 2000–2024
Last refreshed

Municipal waste recycled (Tonnes).