Ford Motor Co. said it plans to reduce landfill waste by 70 percent in Europe by 2016.

Dearborn, Mich.-based Ford said in a news release it will significantly increase the proportion of recycling and reuse of waste to reach that goal. That translates into a reduction in the average landfill waste per vehicle to about 7.25 pounds in 2016 from 11 pounds in 2011.

Ford also pledged to reduce waste usage by 30 percent over the same period.

The commitment covers Ford manufacturing plants in Belgium, Spain, Germany and the United Kingdom.

“This plan represents our pledge to minimize Ford’s impact on the environment both before and after our customers get behind the wheel,” said Stephen Odell, chairman and CEO for Ford of Europe.

Ford of Europe has cut landfill waste generation by 40 percent since 2007 and reduced water use by 37 percent during the same period.