Waste from all sources generated and managed 2023
An Official Statistics Publication for Scotland
Published on 15th July 2025 9:30 AM
This release shows the 2023 calendar year summary of waste from all sources generated and managed in Scotland. Information on the methodology used to prepare this release and a definition of terms is in the methodology and glossary
Key Points
Scottish waste from all sources (WFAS) – 2023 calendar year
The estimated total amount of WFAS generated in Scotland in 2023 was 9.55 million tonnes (Figure 11), a decrease of 774,000 tonnes (7.5%) from 2022. Compared to the baseline year of 2011, the WFAS generated in 2023 represents a decrease of 20.2%.
The reduction in waste generated between 2022 and 2023 was due to decreases in Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste (9.9%), Commercial and Industrial (C&I) waste (8.5%) and Household waste (1.3%).
In 2023, the estimated amount of Scottish WFAS recycled was 5.92 million tonnes (Figure 1), which was 452,000 tonnes (7.1%) less waste recycled than in 2022.
For 2023, the Scottish WFAS recycling rate2,3 was 62.2%, a decrease of 0.6 percentage points from the 62.8% of waste recycled in 20224 (Table 2).
For 2023, the total amount of Scottish WFAS managed by incineration5 was 1.74 million tonnes (Figure 1), an increase of 292,000 tonnes (20.2%) from 2022.
The amount of Scottish WFAS landfilled6 in 2023 was 1.81 million tonnes (Figure 1), a decrease of 485,000 tonnes (21.1%) from 2022. This is the lowest amount of WFAS landfilled in the current time series. It continues a long term trend, with a reduction of 2.87 million tonnes (61.3%) since 2011.
The landfill rate2 in 2023 was 19.0% (Table 1) which was 3.6 percentage points lower than for 20227.
Waste Summary 2023
Figure - Summary
Notes:
Click on any column in the chart to see a breakdown by waste category
Table - Summary
Key figures
Figure - Key figures
Table - Key figures
Notes:
- Targets with objectives to exceed are shown by solid lines and those with objectives to fall below are shown by dashed lines.
- C&D recycling rates are from data provided to Defra for reporting under the UK Waste Statistics on Waste and previously to Europe for reporting under the Waste Framework Directive. Excludes hazardous waste and soil and stone recycled.
- Recovered soils have been included in Scotland’s statistics and national recycling targets since Scotland’s Zero Waste Plan was published in 2010. To ensure that Scotland has future-facing targets and statistics that will better reflect how our society is effectively managing its resources, SEPA is working with the Scottish Government this year as it starts to develop new circular economy targets alongside a new monitoring and indicator framework, as required under the Circular Economy Act 2024 and Waste Route Map to 2030.
- BMW, biodegradable municipal waste - the biodegradable fraction of municipal waste. This is waste that is capable of undergoing anaerobic or aerobic decomposition, such as food and garden waste and paper and cardboard. It is calculated by multiplying the municipal waste tonnage by a biodegradability factor. Further detail is in the WFAS quality report. It should be noted that this measure differs from that for the 2025 BMW landfill ban, which applies to the whole amount of waste containing BMW, not just the BMW fraction.
Data and Trends
Waste generated
The estimated total quantity of WFAS generated in Scotland in 2023 was 9.55 million tonnes, a decrease of 774,000 tonnes (7.5%) from 2022.
In general, the change in waste generated year-on-year since 2011 has varied considerably, primarily due to Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste generated, with year-on-year changes in that waste stream ranging from -27% to +26% (Figure 3). Over the same period, there has been an overall reduction in Commercial and Industrial (C&I) waste generated, with annual changes considerably less variable than C&D waste ranging from -15% to +10%. In comparison, Household waste generated varied by no more than-6% o +2% during the same period.
The generation of C&D waste is sensitive to large regional projects, which accounts for the large year-on-year variation in this waste stream. When C&D waste is excluded, there is less year-on-year variation and the waste generation trend has been generally downward for the 2011 – 2023 period (Figure 4).
Figure - Waste generated
Table - Waste generated
Figure - Waste generated ex C&D
Table - Waste generated ex C&D
The largest waste category generated in 2023 was Soils (2.76 million tonnes, 28.9% of total) which fell by 390,000 tonnes from 2022. The next largest waste category generated was Household and similar wastes (1.92 million tonnes, 20.1% of total) which fell by 170,000 tonnes from 2022 (Figure 5).
It should be noted that the category of Household and similar wastes shown in Figure 5, includes waste generated by both businesses as well as households. This category comprises mixed (residual) waste collected by local authorities and private waste management companies. It does not include all household waste, for example separated recyclable waste from households will be included under appropriate waste categories (details of Scottish household waste generated and managed in 2023 can be found in SEPA’s household waste statistics and on Scotland’s Environment Web).
In 2023, there were 1.32 million tonnes of Household and similar wastes generated by households, and 0.60 million tonnes generated by Scottish businesses (data not shown). Since 2011, there has been a reduction in the total amount of Household and similar wastes generated by 1.23 million tonnes (39.1%). Most of this reduction (61.6%) is due to a decrease of these wastes generated by business, with the remainder of the reduction (38.4%) from households (data not shown).
The long-term reduction in Household and similar wastes generated since 2011 is partly due to implementation of general policies targeted at reducing waste, including a legislative duty of care that requires all waste producers in Scotland to segregate material for recycling, the implementation of source segregated recycling services to the commercial and public sector as required under the Waste Scotland Regulations (2012), and the roll out of recycling services and reduction in the frequency of residual waste collections by local authorities in Scotland.
Figure - Waste generated by category
Table - Waste generated by category
Waste per GVA
Total Gross Value Added (GVA) represents the overall size or value of the economy in pounds. Dividing total waste generated by total GVA gives a measure of waste generated per pound of GVA as an indicator of waste prevention. This is expressed in this publication as tonnes Scottish WFAS generated per £1,000 GVA.
In 2023, the WFAS generated per total GVA for Scotland8 was 56,700 tonnes per £1,000 GVA. This was 5,100 tonnes per £1,000 GVA (8.3%) less than 2022, and 26,000 tonnes per £1,000 GVA (31.0%) less than 2011 (Figure 6). The fall in waste generated per total GVA since 2011 of 31.0% is more pronounced than that for waste generated, which fell by 20.2% during the same period (Figure 6).
Figure - Waste generated per GVA
Table - Waste per GVA
Animal and mixed food waste
There was a reduction of 71,000 tonnes (19.4%) of separately collected Animal and mixed food waste generated between 2022 and 2023, and an increase of 124,000 tonnes (71.7%) (Figure 7) between 2011 to 2023. The longer-term increasing trend for Animal and mixed food waste from 2011 appears to have stabilised from 2018 onwards (Figure 7).
Figure - Food waste generated
Table - Food waste generated
Paper and cardboard waste
There was an increase of 13,000 tonnes (11.3%) in the generation of separately collected Paper and cardboard wastes between 2022 and 2023. An overall reduction in the generation of these wastes between 2011 and 2017 appears to have stabilised (Figure 8). Although separate data is not available for the individual paper or cardboard waste streams, the reduction in print media and increase in paperless offices are likely contributing factors to the decrease in Paper and cardboard waste generated since 2011.
Figure - Paper & card generated
Table - Paper & card generated
Hazardous waste
The total quantity of Scottish Hazardous waste generated in Scotland in 2023 was 410,000 tonnes, a decrease of 18,000 tonnes (4.2%) compared with 2022 (Figure 9). Since 2011, there has been a decrease of 195,000 tonnes (32.2%) in the generation of Scottish Hazardous waste, with the bulk of the reduction from C&D sources (Figure 9). As in previous years, most of the Scottish Hazardous WFAS generated in 2023 (357,000 tonnes, 86.9%) was from C&I sources.
Figure - Hazardous generated
Table - Hazardous generated
In 2023, the main category of hazardous waste generated (Figure 10) was Chemical wastes (99,800 tonnes, 24.3% of all hazardous waste) and Discarded vehicles (63,700 tonnes, 15.5% of total).
Figure - Hazardous generated by cat
Table - Hazardous generated by cat
C&I waste
The largest amount of C&I waste was generated by the Commerce9 sector (Figure 11), which comprises sectors G through U of the UK SIC 2007 (1.20 million tonnes, 40.7% of total), followed by Food and drink manufacture which falls under Section C of the UK SIC 2007 (872,000 tonnes, 29.6% of total).
Figure - C&I by sector
Table - C&I by sector
In 2023, the largest amount of C&I waste was produced in the Aberdeenshire local authority area (Figure 12). These wastes were predominantly from the Food and drink manufacture sector (441,000 tonnes, 77.4% of Aberdeenshire total) and comprised mostly EWC 12 02 07 “waste from spirit distillation” and recovered under paragraph 7 waste licencing exemptions used to treat land for benefit to agriculture or ecological improvement.
Imports and Exports
This section presents a summary of WFAS imported to Scotland or exported from Scotland via SEPA-authorised waste management sites. The data only includes waste that has passed through a SEPA authorised site. Origin and destination are reported by three geographical locations: rest of the UK; Europe; Outwith Europe.
The majority of the WFAS imported to Scotland in 2023 via authorised waste sites came from rest of the UK (636,000 tonnes (Figure 13), 98.5%). The largest waste categories imported were Wood wastes (249,000 tonnes, 38.5%) and Sorting residues (227,000 tonnes, 35.2%). Between 2022 and 2023, waste imports to Scotland via authorised waste sites rose by 209,000 tonnes (47.8%). Over the longer term, since 2011, waste imports to Scotland have risen by 544,000 tonnes (536.0%).
The majority of the WFAS exported from Scotland in 2023 via authorised waste sites went to the rest of the UK (1.09 million tonnes, Figure 14). The largest waste categories exported were Sorting residues (478,000 tonnes, 29.8%) and Metallic wastes, ferrous (379,000 tonnes, 23.7%). Between 2022 and 2023, waste exports from Scotland via authorised waste sites rose 142,000 tonnes (9.7%). Over the longer term, since 2011, waste exports from Scotland have risen by 764,000 tonnes (91.1%).
Figure - Imports
Table - Imports
Figure - Exports
Table - Exports
Waste managed
In 2023, the total amount of Scottish WFAS recorded as recycled, recovered, disposed, or managed by other means was 9.52 million tonnes, which was 29,900 tonnes (0.31%) less than the amount of waste generated (9.55 million tonnes). In historical publications before 2011 the gap between waste managed and waste generated was larger, with the waste generated typically between 15% to 30% greater than waste managed. SEPA produced more robust methodology for estimating C&I waste data generated (introduced with the 2011 publication) and C&D waste aggregates recycled (introduced with 2014 publication and applied to historical data). With these new methodologies the difference between waste generated and waste managed is less variable, ranging from 9.4% more waste generated than managed in 2011 to 7.5% less in 2016. For further information, please refer to the WFAS quality report.
Figure - Waste managed
Table - Waste managed
Recycled
In 2023, the total tonnage of Scottish WFAS recycled10 was 5.92 million tonnes, a decrease of 452,000 tonnes (7.1%) from the 6.37 million tonnes recycled in 2022.
In part, this reduction in total waste recycled reflects the 774,000 tonnes (7.5%) decrease in waste generated between 2022 and 2023 (and hence potentially available to be recycled).
For 2023, the Scottish WFAS recycling rate11,12 was 62.2%, a decrease of 0.6 percentage points from the 62.8% of waste recycled in 20224 (Table 2).
In 2023, the waste category with the largest amount of WFAS recycled as Soils (2.11 million tonnes, 36% of all waste recycled), followed by Mineral waste from construction and demolition, (977,000 tonnes, 17% of all waste recycled, Figure 16). These waste categories are primarily from the C&D sector and their quantities vary considerably year-on-year depending on construction activities and major projects in the country.
Figure - Recycled
Table - Recycled
Recycling by Composting or Anaerobic Digestion
In 2023, 542,000 tonnes of Scottish organic WFAS were recycled in composting or anaerobic digestion facilities (Figure 17). This was a decrease of 41,000 tonnes (7.0%) from 2022.
In 2023, the largest category of Scottish organic WFAS recycled in composting or anaerobic digestion facilities was Animal and mixed food waste (272,000 tonnes, Figure 17) which was 8.1% (24,000 tonnes) less than than 2022. As with the waste recycled the reductions are related, in part, to the overall reduction in waste generated between 2022 and 2023 (Figure 3) and hence potentially available to be recycled by composting or anaerobic digestion.
From 2011 to 2018 there was an upward trend in the recycling of these wastes, followed by a reduction in 2021 (possibly due to the influence of COVID-19 and associated lockdowns). Since then, recycling of these wastes has fluctuated.
Figure - Composted
Table - Composted
Waste incinerated
In 2023, there were 1.74 million tonnes of Scottish WFAS incinerated4 . This was an increase of 292,000 tonnes (20.2%) from 2022. This follows a longer-term trend, with an increase of 1.31 million tonnes (308%) of waste incinerated since 2011. Most (85.7%, 1.49 million tonnes) Scottish WFAS incinerated was undertaken at Scottish incineration facilities.
In 2023, there were 1.15 million tonnes of Scottish waste recovered by incineration with energy recovery or co-incineration (65.9% of waste incinerated), with the remaining waste (594,000 tonnes, 34.1%) incinerated by disposal (Figure 18).
Figure - Incinerated by method
Table - Incinerated by method
The largest categories of Scottish WFAS incinerated in 2023 were Sorting residues (724,000 tonnes, 41.6% of all waste incinerated), followed by Household and similar wastes (553,000 tonnes, 31.7%) and Wood wastes (348,000 tonnes, 20%) (Figure 19).
Figure - Incinerated
Table - Incinerated
Waste Landfilled
Scottish WFAS disposed to landfill4 in 2023 was 1.81 million tonnes, a reduction of 485,000 tonnes (21.1%) from the 2.30 million tonnes landfilled in 2022. This is consistent with the longer-term trend of decreasing disposal to landfill with a reduction of 2.87 million tonnes (61.3%) between 2011 and 2023 (Figure 20).
In 2023, the vast majority (98.4%, 1.78 million tonnes) of Scottish WFAS was landfilled at regulated facilities in Scotland (data not shown).
Figure - Landfilled
Table - Landfilled
There were 60,400 tonnes of Scottish Hazardous waste disposed to landfill in 2023, which amounts to 3.3% of all Scottish waste landfilled. This was an increase of 3,100 tonnes (5.4%) compared to 2022 (Figure 21). The bulk of Scottish Hazardous waste landfilled was Mineral wastes from waste treatment and stabilised wastes (27,300 tonnes, 45.2%), followed by Other mineral wastes, which primarily comprises insulating materials such as asbestos (24,000 tonnes, 39.8%).
Figure - Landfilled haz
Table - Landfilled haz
About WFAS statistics
This is an Official Statistics publication. These statistics have been produced to the high professional standards defined in the Code of Practice for Official Statistics, which sets out fourteen principles under the pillars of Trustworthiness, Quality and Value. More information on the Official Statistics Code of Practice web site.
Lead statistician – Peter Ferrett, SEPA
Media enquiries on this publication to: SEPA Communications Department, media@sepa.org.uk
All other enquiries to: waste.data@sepa.org.uk
User Statement
Data on WFAS generation and management are collected to monitor policy effectiveness, particularly the commitments in the Zero Waste Plan, Safeguarding Scotland’s Resources, and Scotland’s Circular Economy Strategy and to support policy development. The data are also used to meet legislative reporting targets on recycling targets set out in the Waste Framework Directive (2008/98/EC) and Commission Decision establishing rules and calculation methods for verifying compliance with the targets set in the Waste Framework Directive (2011/753/EU) and to supply data for the Waste Statistics Regulation (2002/2150/EC). The data are used extensively by local and central government, the waste industry, researchers, community groups and the general public.
Scotland’s strategic plan to deliver Scotland’s zero waste and circular economy ambitions are under review, with a public consultation on Scotland’s circular economy and waste route map to 2030 recently completed, which includes a new range of proposed measures and targets for moving further towards a circular economy.
The Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill was passed in June 2024 and is now the Circular Economy (Scotland) Act 2024. This is supported by the Scottish Government’s Circular Economy and Waste Route Map which aims to:
- Set the strategic direction and foundations of how a system wide, comprehensive vision for Scotland’s circular economy from now to 2030 will be delivered.
- Sets priority actions from now to 2030 to accelerate more sustainable use of resources across the waste hierarchy.
- Sets out opportunities to reduce emissions associated with resources and waste.
Feedback
We welcome feedback on the data from all users including how and why the data are used. This helps us to understand the value of the statistics to external users. Please see our contact details.
Revisions
SEPA will provide information about any revisions made to published information in this statistics release and the associated datasets. 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 official release.
Revisions to 2022 WFAS since the last household statistical publication, published in March 2022, are shown below (Table 22). Revisions are due to:
(Re-)submission of waste returns by authorised and exempt waste sites
A correction to the methodology to estimate C&D waste recycled at licensed sites. This change was to correctly allocate a small amount of tonnages to hazardous wastes recycled.
An amendment to the estimate of Paper and cardboard waste sent from simple exempt sites for recycling.
Notes:
Cells shaded in gray represent a change of +/- 100 tonnes
Methodology
Data are taken from licenced and permitted waste site returns and exempt activity returns submitted to SEPA, from accredited reprocessor returns, from voluntary returns provided by waste sites on the industry source of data provided to SEPA, from voluntary returns provided by aggregate producers on the quantity of waste used to produce an aggregate product, and from all 32 Scottish local authorities using the web-based reporting tool WasteDataFlow.
Further details on the methodology used to produce the figures are provided in the associated Waste Data Quality Report.
As the tonnages of waste managed do not equal the tonnages of waste generated, the recycling and landfill rates referred to in this document Figure 2 are all relative to the total waste managed rather than waste generated. For further information, please refer to the Waste Data Quality Report.
Please note that WFAS figures published by countries within the UK may be based on alternative calculation methodologies and as such the figures may not be directly comparable.
Release
Pre-release access
The release of this publication is in line with release practices specified in the Code of Practice for Statistics. The statistics are released at the standard time of 9.30 am on a pre-announced weekday date. Pre-release access to the statistics in their final form is provided to Scottish ministers and those on a list of named officials advising them five working days before the public release. This is to ensure that at the time of release Scottish ministers are able to comment publicly on the statistics based on a correct understanding of them.
Besides analytical staff involved in the production and quality assurance of this publication, the following post holders in SEPA and the Scottish Government were given pre-release access up to 5 days before release:
Scottish Government Ministers x 3
Scottish Government Special Adviser x 1
Scottish Government Analyst x 4
Scottish Government Policy Official x 6
Scottish Government Communications Official x 2
Zero Waste Scotland Communications Official x 7
Zero Waste Scotland Policy Adviser x 3
SEPA Communications Official x 14
SEPA Policy Adviser x 6
Glossary
BSI PAS 100 / 110
A national compost benchmark that specifies the minimum requirements for the process of composting, the selection of material from which compost is made, and standards for the compost product quality. PAS 100 is applicable to composting facilities while PAS 110 is applicable to anaerobic digestion facilities. The use of this standard to improve the quality of compost in Scotland became part of Scottish Government policy in 2011, with 2014 being the first year it was applied to the waste official statistics. For 2011 – 2013 the wastes that met the PAS 100/110 standard were modelled to produce a back series.
Co-incineration facility
An incineration facility in which the main purpose is the generation of energy or production of material products (e.g. cement) and which uses waste as an additional fuel. Note that co-incineration is already classified as a recovery operation under Annex II of the EU Waste Framework Directive and not eligible to qualify for R1 energy recovery efficiency under the Directive.
C&D Waste
Waste from the construction and demolition industry.
C&I Waste
Waste from commercial and industrial sources. Includes waste from business and industrial premises in Scotland, but excludes waste from the construction and demolition industry.
EWC code
European Waste Catalogue code.
GVA
Gross Value Added for Scotland measures the contribution to the economy of each individual producer, industry or sector in Scotland and is used in the estimation of GDP. GVA therefore is the difference between output and intermediate consumption for any given sector/industry.
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 Regulation 1996 (and amendments).
Landfill rate
waste landfilled as a percentage of all waste managed. Note that total waste generated is not used to calculate the recycling rate as it does not equal total waste managed due to differences in methodologies used to calculate the data.
Other diversion from landfill
Waste managed by methods outside of recycling, recovery or disposal. For 2023 this comprised exclusively waste composted at facilities not accredited to the BSI PAS 100/110 standard.
Recycling rate
Waste recycled as a percentage of all waste managed. Note that total waste generated is not used to calculate the recycling rate as it does not equal total waste managed due to differences in methodologies used to calculate the data.
Waste composted
Waste recycled by biological treatment through composting at a composting plant or through digestion at an anaerobic digestion facility.
Waste disposed
Waste landfilled and waste inputs to incineration facilities that have not been demonstrated to meet the R1 energy recovery efficiency specified in the EU Waste Framework Directive.
Waste generated
Waste that arises directly from Scottish businesses and households during the reporting year. C&I waste generated are estimated using data from licensed/permitted site returns and complex exempt activity return. C&D waste generated is estimated using data from licensed/permitted site returns, complex exempt activity returns and aggregate survey data. Household waste generated is taken from all 32 Scottish local authority returns using the web-based reporting tool WasteDataFlow (WDF). Waste generated only includes waste that arises directly from the business, for example waste that is taken in by a business from another business and subsequently disposed is excluded from the waste generation.
Waste disposed by incineration
Waste inputs to incineration facilities that have not been demonstrated to meet the R1 energy recovery efficiency specified in the EU Waste Framework Directive.
Waste landfilled
Waste that is disposed of to landfill sites instead of being recycled or recovered. This includes incinerator ash, plus any recycling and composting rejects that occur during collection, sorting or further treatment that are landfilled.
Waste managed
Includes all wastes recycled, disposed, recovered and managed by other management within the relevant reporting year.
Waste recovered by incineration
Waste inputs to co-incineration facilities and to incineration facilities that incinerate mixed municipal waste and have been demonstrated to meet the R1 energy recovery efficiency specified in the EU Waste Framework Directive.
Waste recycled
Recyclable materials that have been recycled, prepared for reuse and biodegradable materials that have been composted or anaerobically digested to quality standards set by PAS 100/110.
WFAS
Waste from all sources. This includes waste from commercial and industrial sources, construction and demolition sources and household sources.
The summary data categories of Generated, Recycled, Incinerated, Landfilled, and Other Diversion is a change from the 2022 WFAS publication, in which the summary categories are Generated, Recycled, Recovered, Disposed and Other Diversion. Previously, Disposal comprised Incineration by disposal (D10) and Landfill, and Recovery comprised Incineration by recovery (R1) and Incineration by co-incineration. The change has been made so data is easier to understand, to focus on categories of the most interest to users, and for consistency with the presentation of household statistics. The sub-categorisation of incineration into incineration by recovery, disposal, and co-incineration remains available in the incineration section of this report.↩︎
As WFAS generated and WFAS managed does not balance, recycling and landfill rates are expressed as a proportion of the total WFAS managed. Further details on the methodologies may be found in the WFAS quality report.↩︎
Recovered soils have been included in Scotland’s statistics and national recycling targets since Scotland’s Zero Waste Plan was published in 2010. To ensure that Scotland has future-facing targets and statistics that will better reflect how our society is effectively managing its resources, SEPA is working with the Scottish Government this year as it starts to develop new circular economy targets alongside a new monitoring and indicator framework, as required under the Circular Economy Act 2024 and Waste Route Map to 2030.↩︎
The 2022 recycling rate has been revised upwards from 62.3% to 62.8%. Further information about revisions to 2022 WFAS data is available in the revisions section.↩︎
These statistics cover all Scottish waste incinerated, whether incinerated in Scotland or outwith Scotland. The waste incinerated in Scotland statistics, published in October 2022, covers all waste incinerated in Scottish incinerators, irrespective of the source (Scottish, non-Scottish) of the waste.↩︎
These statistics cover all Scottish waste landfilled, whether landfilled in Scotland or outwith Scotland. The waste landfilled in Scotland statistics, published in October 2022, covers all waste landfill in Scottish landfilled, irrespective of the source (Scottish, non-Scottish) of the waste.↩︎
The 2022 landill rate has been revised downwards from 23.2% to 22.6%. Further information about revisions to 2022 WFAS data is available in the revisions section.↩︎
The GVA statistics are produced by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The chain-volume-method estimates were used, which, for the 2011 - 2023 series, measures the GVA in 2022 money value. GVA data is taken from the ONS website.↩︎
The C&I tables were previously published as business waste excel tables. C&I waste excludes waste from construction and demolition.↩︎
Recycled includes waste recycled, prepared for reuse and waste composted.↩︎
As WFAS generated and WFAS managed does not balance, recycling and landfill rates are expressed as a proportion of the total WFAS managed. Further details on the methodologies may be found in the WFAS quality report.↩︎
Recovered soils have been included in Scotland’s statistics and national recycling targets since Scotland’s Zero Waste Plan was published in 2010. To ensure that Scotland has future-facing targets and statistics that will better reflect how our society is effectively managing its resources, SEPA is working with the Scottish Government this year as it starts to develop new circular economy targets alongside a new monitoring and indicator framework, as required under the Circular Economy Act 2024 and Waste Route Map to 2030.↩︎