European regional recycling rate gains

In mid‑July 2026 Wales reported that its overall recycling rate had risen to 65.4%, surpassing its governmental target and ranking the nation among the world’s leaders. The improvement was tied to a new “Be Mighty. Recycle.” campaign and the rollout of a five‑bag source‑separation system in Carmarthenshire, which will expand county‑wide later in the year.

A week later, Galicia announced that its municipal recycling rate had climbed from 20 % to 30 % in 2024, lifting the region in national rankings. The jump reflected a 50 % increase in source‑separation efficiency and a reduction in landfill reliance, aligning the region with European Union waste‑management objectives.

Both snapshots illustrate a broader trend of sub‑national authorities across Europe intensifying recycling programmes and adopting new collection methods to meet increasingly ambitious environmental targets.