3FOOD

Third Industrial Revolution Consulting Group
Luxembourgish total volume of food waste is estimated to 68,010 tonnes yearly, which
amounts to 123.7 kg / inhabitant per year. Within this total, 31,005 tonnes are avoidable food
waste, which amounts to 56.4 kg / inhabitant per year.
In addition to food wastes, there are organic quantities of bio-refuse. Since Luxembourg’s 1994
inclusion of organic waste separation requirement, the collection of organic quantities of waste
and bio-refuse increased ten-fold (by 2012 as shown in this chart). Of the roughly 97,000 tonnes
per year, Luxembourg landfills 7%, incinerates 52% and biologically treats 41%, including
composting and anaerobic digestion (based on 2004 data of food and green waste
management, so percentages may be different as of 2016). 147
LU accepted organic quantities of waste and bio-refuse (in tons) 2004 -2012
Source: Statistics Portal Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, November 19, 2014,
According to a World Bank assessment, organic wastes worldwide amounted to roughly 600
million tonnes in 2012, with projected doubling by 2025 and disposal costs rising to one-third of
a trillion euros. 148 As part of the EU’s PLASCARB collaborative, ongoing research, development
147 JRC (2008) Inventory of Existing Studies Applying Life Cycle Thinking to Bio waste Management (Analysis of
Existing Studies that Use a Life Cycle Approach to Assess the Environmental Performance of Different Options for
the Management of the Organic Fraction of Municipal Solid Waste), EUR 23497.
148 World Bank (2012) WHAT A WASTE, A Global Review of Solid Waste Management, prepared by Daniel
Hoornweg and Perinaz Bhada-Tata, March 2012, No. 15, World Bank Urban Development series,
177