Dive Summary:

• The European Union released a report that grades each of its member countries against 18 waste management critieria including total waste recycled, pricing of waste disposal, and infringements of European legislation.
• At the top of the chart was Austria and the Netherlands.  At the bottom was several southern and eastern European countries - highlighted by Greece and Bulgaria.
• The EU will use the report to create waste management Roadmaps for the worst performing member countries.  As is European custom, they will be discussed at bilateral seminars starting this fall.
• The European Union's full "medals table" that illustrates the best and worst performers can be found here.  Red flags show scores below target.

From the article:

Several countries in southern and eastern Europe are falling well below EU targets for waste management, with Bulgaria, Cyprus and Greece among the worst offenders, an EU report says.

Northern European countries mostly have the best results, the comparison shows.

"Many member states are still landfilling huge amounts of municipal waste... despite better alternatives," the EU environment commissioner said.

The UK also relies too much on landfill, according to the EU report.