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Last updated: 18 March 2026
Total waste generated
Indicator Updated: 18 March 2026
| Year | Construction and demolition | Commercial and industrial | Household Waste | Total waste generated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 5.20 | 4.16 | 2.61 | 11.96 |
| 2012 | 3.80 | 3.76 | 2.50 | 10.06 |
| 2013 | 4.79 | 3.86 | 2.41 | 11.06 |
| 2014 | 4.17 | 3.37 | 2.46 | 10.00 |
| 2015 | 5.09 | 3.71 | 2.47 | 11.28 |
| 2016 | 5.03 | 3.15 | 2.50 | 10.68 |
| 2017 | 5.59 | 3.40 | 2.46 | 11.45 |
| 2018 | 5.81 | 3.24 | 2.41 | 11.45 |
| 2019 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| 2020 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| 2021 | 3.94 | 3.14 | 2.48 | 9.56 |
| 2022 | 4.77 | 3.22 | 2.33 | 10.32 |
| 2023 | 4.30 | 2.94 | 2.30 | 9.55 |
This indicator reports the annual amount of waste, in millions of tonnes, generated in Scotland from all sources: household, commercial, industrial and construction and demolition.
For waste generated from all sources, there is a target of a 15% reduction from 2011 levels by 2025, derived from ‘Making Things Last: a circular economy strategy for Scotland’.
Source: SEPA
Update Frequency: Annual
Further Information: See SEPA Official Statistics on Scottish waste from all sources
Please note that figures are not available for 2019 and 2020due to the cyber-attack on SEPA in December 2020.
Carbon footprint of Scotland’s waste
Indicator Updated: 04 November 2021
| Year | Carbon footprint of waste (million tonnes of CO2 equivalent) |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 15.20 |
| 2012 | 13.04 |
| 2013 | 12.36 |
| 2014 | 11.66 |
| 2015 | 11.09 |
| 2016 | 11.02 |
| 2017 | 11.93 |
| 2018 | 10.58 |
This indicator reports the annual worldwide Greenhouse Gas emissions associated with Scotland’s waste expressed in millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2e).
Source: Zero Waste Scotland.
Update Frequency: Annual
Further Information: Carbon footprint of Scotland’s waste indicator information is available from Zero Waste Scotland.
Scotland’s material footprint
Indicator Updated: 11 January 2024
| Year | Scotland’s material footprint per capita (tonnes) |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 20.2 |
| 2012 | 22.6 |
| 2013 | 12.5 |
| 2014 | 16.7 |
| 2015 | 16.9 |
| 2016 | 23.7 |
| 2017 | 18.4 |
| 2018 | 19.3 |
This indicator reports the total quantity of raw materials worldwide used to produce the goods and services we consume in Scotland. It identifies the volume and types of materials being extracted in Scotland, imported into Scotland and exported from Scotland.
There are three main flows of materials through Scotland’s economy:
Domestically extracted materials: natural resources, like oil and gas, wood, and crops, that we extract or produce right here in Scotland
Imports: raw materials and products that we import from abroad, from steel to laptops to fruit and veg
Exports: raw materials and products that we ship overseas, from oil and gas to whisky and clothes
Source: Zero Waste Scotland
Update Frequency: Annual
Further Information: Scotland’s material footprint indicator information is available from Zero Waste Scotland.