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Household waste sent to landfill falls by 84% since 2011, but recycling challenge still remains

Scotland has cut the amount of household waste sent to landfill by more than 84% since 2011, according to new household waste statistics, published today by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).

The latest data show Scotland has continued to make significant progress in reducing its reliance on landfill, with the amount of household waste sent to landfill falling by a further 10.3% in 2025.

However, while the way Scotland manages household waste has changed dramatically over the last decade, progress in reducing the amount of waste generated and increasing the national recycling rate has been more limited.

In 2025, Scottish households generated 2.31 million tonnes of waste, a decrease of just 1,500 tonnes (0.1%) compared with 2024. Household waste generation remains 11% lower than in 2011, when the current time series began.

Meanwhile, Scotland's household recycling rate fell from 44.3% in 2024 to 42.8% in 2025. While recycling rates have remained relatively stable over the last 15 years, the latest decrease underlines the ongoing challenge of encouraging households to recycle so that resources can be kept in use for longer.

Research previously carried out by Zero Waste Scotland found that around 52% of the material currently placed in Scotland's general household waste bins could potentially be recycled. This includes everyday items such as food waste, paper, cardboard and plastic.

With recycling rates flat and landfilling reducing, incineration of household waste increased by 5.7% (49,000 tonnes) in 2025. Incineration is used to manage residual wastes placed in general bins and not separated for recycling.

Taken together, the figures paint a mixed picture of Scotland's progress towards a circular economy. Significant reductions in landfill and increases in incineration demonstrate how waste management is evolving, but the latest figures also show there remains considerable scope to further reduce waste and increase recycling rates.

As the Circular Economy & Waste Route Map sets out, the Scottish Government has various actions underway seeking to increase recycling and divert recyclable material from general household waste, including the deposit return scheme, packaging extended producer responsibility and the forthcoming recycling Code of Practice.

Dr Richard Allan, SEPA’s Chief Scientific Advisor, said:

"There has been a major shift over the last 15 years in the way household waste is being managed and disposed of across the country. Waste headed to landfill has fallen significantly by 84% since 2011, representing a significant achievement and demonstrating what can be achieved when households, local authorities, government and businesses work towards a shared goal.

"At the same time, however, the figures highlight an ongoing challenge. While landfill waste continues to fall and the amount of household waste we generate has decreased slightly, recycling rates have broadly stayed the same over the last eight years.

“This poses a serious question as to how Scotland can realise its circular economy ambitions. It’s clear that where waste ends up is important, but we need to focus on preventing waste in the first place and recycling more of that material when it is produced.

"We know there is still considerable untapped potential, outlined by the Zero Waste Scotland research showing much more of our general waste bins could potentially be recycled. That includes many everyday items we all use and consume like food waste, paper, cardboard and plastics.

“If we can place further emphasis on ensuring these items are disposed of correctly, it will help reduce environmental impacts, move closer towards a sustainable future and reap the environmental, economic and societal benefits that come with it.”

Waste landfilled in Scotland

The total quantity of all waste types landfilled in Scotland in 2025 was 1.58 million tonnes, a reduction of 230,000 tonnes (12.7%) compared with 2024. This is the lowest record amount of waste landfilled in Scotland.

Much of this reduction was due to decreases in sorting residues, which fell by 216,000 tonnes (38.5%), and construction wastes, which fell by 15,000 tonnes (34.2%).

Waste incinerated in Scotland

Overall, 1.84 million tonnes of waste from all sources was incinerated in Scotland during 2025, a slight decrease of 1.1% from the previous year.

Despite this year-on-year reduction, the quantity of waste incinerated remains substantially higher than in 2011, having increased by 1.44 million tonnes (363%) over the period.

Household and similar wastes remained the largest waste category incinerated in Scotland, accounting for 857,000 tonnes, or 46.5% of all waste incinerated.

NOTES TO EDITORS

Household statistics -  Household waste generated and managed 2025

A breakdown of the percentage of household waste recycled in Scotland from 2011-2025 can be found on page 15 of the statistics document - Household waste official statistics 

Link to by local authority table - Household waste 

All waste landfilled - Waste landfilled in Scotland 2025 

All waste incinerated - Waste incinerated in Scotland 2025 

All waste generated and all waste recycling will be published in 2027. 

The definition of household waste and clarification of what counts and what does not count towards the recycling rate is available in the Zero Waste Plan – guidance for local authorities, published in March 2011.   

Official statistics are produced by SEPA’s statisticians in accordance with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics. Further details on the methodology used to produce the figures are provided in the accompanying  data quality reports.   

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. 

The independent review on the role of incineration in Scotland was published in 2022.  

Zero Waste Scotland estimated that approximately 550,000 tonnes, or 52%, of residual waste is made up of waste types that can typically be recycled at the kerbside in their report: The composition of household waste at the kerbside in 2021-2023. They also estimated that food waste remains the largest single waste type in the residual waste stream at approximately 330,000 tonnes per annum.