Energy Indicators for Sustainable Development: Guidelines and Methodologies International Atomic Energy Agency United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs International Energy Agency Eurostat European Environment Agency

(d) Alternative Definitions/Indicators: The basic waste data could be presented on 
their own or as the accumulated waste — ideally the waste accumulated since 
operations started, but more realistically that accumulated since a fixed base year. 
ASSESSMENT OF DATA 
(a) Data Needed to Compile the Indicator: Data on the production of waste at 
source, as well as data on primary energy production, output from refineries and 
electricity generated from fossil fuels and other combustible fuels. 
(b) National and International Data Availability: In general, waste statistics are of 
very poor quality, and the share of solid waste from energy production may be 
2
Transport equipment is considered to belong to the transport sector and thus is excluded from the 
definition of waste from the energy sector. If such equipment were included, the figures could be 
manipulated and waste could be ‘reduced’ by simply outsourcing transport activities, with no real 
impact on the quantities of waste generated. 

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difficult to obtain. Available data are scattered and consist of only rough estimates. In 
the European Union, data on industrial waste will be regularly collected with the 
implementation of the Waste Statistics Regulation. 
(c) Data References: In some countries, data on the volume of waste removed from 
energy-producing facilities are monitored by waste-collection contractors. However, 
this may not be all the waste generated (see above). 
REFERENCES 
• Commission of the European Communities, 2003. Proposal for a Directive of 
the European Parliament and of the Council on the Management of Waste 
from the Extractive Industries. COM(2003) 319 final. Brussels, Belgium: 
Commission of the European Communities. 
• EEA, 2002. Review of Selected Waste Streams: Sewage Sludge, Construction 
and Demolition Waste, Waste Oils, Waste from Coal-Fired Power Plants and 
Biodegradable Municipal Waste. Technical report no. 69. Copenhagen, 
Denmark: European Environment Agency. 
• Eurostat, 2000. Waste Generated in Europe — Data 1985–1997. Luxembourg: 
Eurostat. 
• OECD, 1998. The Status of Waste Minimization in the OECD Member 
Countries. Paris, France: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and 
Development.