SEPA releases statistics on Scottish household waste
24 September 2019
Article: 53/3804
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has published statistics providing detail of household waste collected across all Scottish local authorities during 2018. The statistics indicate some positive findings including:
- A 15% decrease in the carbon impact of Scottish waste from 2011 to 2018.
- A 2% decrease in the total household waste generated in Scotland.
- A 7% decrease in household waste sent to landfill, increasing the rate of recycled household waste for the second year running.
- An increase in plastic and glass recycling. Plastic recycling rose by 5% in 2018, continuing the trend of increasing each year for the last seven years. Glass remains the second most recycled material, with a 0.8% increase recorded.
Despite this, paper and cardboard recycling has continued on its downward trend since 2011, with a 7% reduction being recorded from 2017, which makes a total reduction of 13% from 2011 figures.
The total household recycling rate was 44.7% which was a slight decrease from the 45.5% achieved in 2016.
Source: SEPA, 17 September 2019