Official Statistics Publication for Scotland : Waste landfilled in Scotland – 2019 and Waste incinerated in Scotland – 2019

These are known as the Waste landfilled in Scotland – 2019 and Waste incinerated in Scotland – 2019 statistics and are published at www.sepa.org.uk/environment/waste/waste-data/waste-data-reporting/waste-data-for-scotland

The corresponding data set for all waste generated and recycled in Scotland during 2019 will be published in March 2021.

Waste landfilled 

Scotland sent 3 million tonnes of waste to landfill in 2019, a reduction of 735,807 tonnes (20%) from 2018 and a reduction of over 4 million tonnes (57%) from 2005. The total amount of waste disposed of to landfill has generally decreased steadily since 2009, following large reductions between 2007 and 2009.

The reduction was largely due to the amount of Household and similar wastes landfilled, which fell by 36% from 1.19 million tonnes in 2018 to 0.76 million tonnes in 2019.

The amount of biodegradable municipal waste disposed to landfill fell below one million tonnes for the first time. The drop to 0.7 million tonnes is a decrease of 324,486 tonnes (32%) from 2018. 

Waste diverted from landfill through incineration

The total quantity of waste incinerated in Scotland in 2019 was 1.23 million tonnes, an increase of 0.52 million tonnes (72%) from 2018, and an increase of 0.82 million tonnes (199%) from 2011.

This was largely due to the Household and similar wastes incinerated, which increased by 131% from 2018 to 330,368 tonnes in 2019. The Household and similar wastes category does not include waste which has been segregated into recycling bins, only that which has gone into a general waste bin.

Waste data

Data on waste are collected to monitor policy effectiveness, and to support policy development, particularly commitments in the Scottish Government’s Making Things Last – A Circular Economy Strategy for Scotland.

The figures are accurate at the time of publication, however data may be updated if further revisions are necessary. Normally these revisions will be published concurrent with the next official release.

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