TERRITORIAL DISPARITIES OF THE WASTE GENERATION AND RESOURCE PRODUCTIVITY IN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

Sustainable development is not only a desideratum but also a pressing necessity of modern economies. Its efficient use of resources and reduction of waste generation are priority objectives in both the EU and most countries. Therefrom, based on two groups of indicators which characterize on the one hand the intensity of waste generation and on the other hand the level of development and use of resources, the paper presents the results of a cluster analysis which included 30 European states. The level of disparities between the states included in the analysis is highlighted by the results obtained on the resource’s productivity and the level of waste generation. Thus, the highest values of GDP and Resource productivity are reported in Luxembourg, and the lowest in Serbia. Regarding the indicators Generation of municipal waste per capita and Generation of waste excluding major mineral wastes either per domestic material consumption or per GDP unit the highest levels are recorded in Norway, Belgium and Bulgaria while Romania, Latvia and Norway record the lowest levels. The conclusion is that sustainable waste management and treatment options aim at both regional environmental management and efficiency and a waste trade between regions and countries which is in line with the  sustainable development.