The EU generated 2.3 million tonnes of textile waste in 2024, with households accounting for more than half, Eurostat reported on 12 November. Separately, the recorded volume treated that year was 1.4 million tonnes, equivalent to 63% of the amount generated.
Of the textiles treated, 78% went to recycling and 13% to incineration that recovered energy. Landfill accounted for 8%, while incineration without energy recovery represented 1%. Those treatment shares use the treated volume as their denominator.
Italy recorded the largest quantity generated, at about 442,000 tonnes, followed by France at 340,000 and Germany at 212,000. The data provide a picture of material entering disposal and recovery systems in 2024, rather than measuring new textile production or sales.
Sources
Original summary based on the sources above, checked for the November 13, 2026 edition. Reference dates are shown separately from the edition date.