Quality Report for Waste Landfilled in Scotland 2023

Introduction

This report describes the methodologies used to produce summary data on waste landfilled in Scotland for the 2023 calendar year. The report should be used alongside the 2023 Waste landfilled in Scotland official statistics commentary document.

The 2023 data are presented as follows:

The Waste landfilled in Scotland and associated data tables are presented in a summary and commentary document. This narrative describes the major trends and provides an interpretation of the data.
Scotland’s Environment Waste Discover Data tool presents the waste from all sources (WFAS) data in an interactive and visual format and is found on Scotland’s Environment web. This tool covers the total waste managed, whether it be waste from households, waste from construction and demolition, or waste from commerce and industry. It includes the incineration dataset.

The WFAS Discover tool is updated once yearly, in about March, when all data for Scottish waste generated and managed, of which waste incinerated in Scotland is a subset, becomes available. The statistical commentary and data are released about six months before the annual update of the WFAS Discover tool. This is because the incineration data comes primarily from one discrete dataset and, in line with the code of practice for statistics which provides that statistics should be released as soon as they are considered ready, can be prepared and published earlier than the WFAS.

Appendix 1 provides a fuller description of the dataset(s) included in Waste landfilled in Scotland .

Appendix 2 provides a summary of the coding of waste using the European Waste Catalogue (EWC) and European Waste Catalogue for Statistics (EWC-STAT), which are used throughout this document. Appendix 2 also provides a table of EWC codes that comprise municipal waste, for the purpose of reporting BMW landfilled.

Appendix 3 provides a glossary of terms.

Appendix 4 provides a list of acronyms.

Revisions Policy

Revisions could occur for various reasons, including when data from third parties are unavailable or provisional at the time of publishing or if there are subsequent methodological improvements or refinements. The figures are accurate at the time of publication. However, the data may be updated if further revisions are necessary. Normally these revisions will be published concurrent with the next release. Where there have been changes in methodology for the waste data tables, the complete dataset. is revised for all years to ensure that comparisons between years are valid.

Waste Landfilled in Scotland

Introduction

This section describes how we report the disposal of wastes via landfill.

Waste type descriptions are separated into non-hazardous/hazardous using European Waste Catalogue (EWC) codes.

Waste disposed via landfill

Data on waste disposed to landfill in Scotland were taken from the licensed/permitted site returns dataset.

All landfill data is taken from permitted waste quarterly landfill data returns submitted to SEPA. There were 41 Scottish landfill sites included in the analysis for 2023. The number of landfill sites that are actively disposing of waste to landfill varies from year to year. The number of landfill sites has decreased steadily between 2005 and 2023, consistent with a decrease in waste landfilled from 7.1 million tonnes in 2005 to 2.4 million tonnes in 2023.

Appendix 1

Datasets used in the 2023 methodology

Approximately 940 individual licences submit quarterly returns to SEPA via email or post, of which 41 sites were operational landfill sites. A copy of the return form can be downloaded from the SEPA website. The returns dataset is managed and checked by SEPA. The return form consists of Table B (Waste inputs to site), Table C (Waste treated on site), Table C4 (Waste landfilled or incinerated after treatment on-site – landfill or incineration sites only) and Table D (Waste sent off site).

Appendix 2

European Waste Catalogue

Throughout this document reference is made to both the European Waste Catalogue (EWC) list of wastes and European Waste Catalogue for Statistics (EWC-STAT). A brief explanation of each is given below, along with links to further information.

Euroepean Waste Catalogue List of Waste (EWC 2000)

The EWC 2000 is a harmonised, non-exhaustive list of waste types established by the European Commission (2000/532/EC) as amended in 2015 (2014/955/EU). The list is used to categorise wastes based on a combination of what they are, and the process or activity that produces them.

The list is divided into 20 chapters, most of which are industry-based, although some are based on materials and processes. Each chapter is represented by a two-digit code between 01 and 20 and comprises one or more sub-chapters. Individual waste types are detailed in the sub-chapters and are assigned a six-digit code that comprises two digits for the chapter, two for the sub-chapter and two to the waste type.

Hazardous wastes are designated by entries where the EWC code is terminated by an asterisk (*).

The use of EWC codes to describe waste on waste transfer notes in Scotland has been statutory since April 2004. Most statutory waste data returns received by SEPA, including licensed/permitted site returns, exempt activity returns, and special waste consignment notes require waste to be classified according to the EWC 2000 (as amended).

European Waste Catalogue for Statistics (EWC-STAT)

The EWC-Stat is a (mainly) substance-oriented statistical classification of waste established by the European Commission (2004/574/EC). The EWC-STAT contains thirteen categories, each represented by a two-digit code between 01 and 13. These are sub-divided into individual waste types.

A table of equivalence allows wastes coded in the EWC 2000 (as amended) to convert into the EWC-Stat. However, because of the way the coding system operates, it is not possible to do the reverse conversion.

EWC codes which comprise Muncipal Waste and biodradability factors

Table 1.

The biodegradability of the European Waste Catalogue (EWC) codes that are counted as Municipal Waste.

Appendix 3

Glossary

EWC Code – a six-digit code listed in the European Waste Catalogue. These codes are used to identify and classify waste into different categories. They are structured as three pairs of numbers, each representing chapters, sub-chapters, and individual entries. For example, 12 01 06*.

Hazardous Waste – waste with hazardous properties which may render it harmful to human health or the environment. Hazardous waste is also called Special Waste in Scotland, as defined in the Special Waste Regulations 1996 .

PPC Permit – a permit issued by SEPA under the Pollution Prevention and Control (Scotland) Regulations 2012.

Waste from all sources (WFAS) – waste that originates from commercial and industrial sources, construction and demolition sources as well as from household sources.

Appendix 4

Acronyms

EWC: European Waste Catalogue

EWC-STAT: European Waste Catalogue for Statistics

SEPA: Scottish Environment Protection Agency