At EU level have been developed a series of documents governing the implementation of environmental policies. Over the last years, their implementation at national level has been achieved through normative acts (laws, government decisions, orders). In the case of waste management, the situation is similar. This article presents the European and national documents underlying the implementation of waste management policies. In order to implement waste policies, statistical data on waste generation and management is required. The article analyzes the amount of waste generated and treated at national and European level.