Key Facts about: Waste and Recycling
Household waste and recycling: 1983/4-2007/08
United Kingdom
kilograms per person per year |
|||||||||
1983/4 |
1991/2 |
1995/6 |
2000/1 |
2002/3 |
2004/5 |
2005/6 |
2006/7 |
2007/8 |
|
Waste not recycled |
394 |
417 |
423 |
455 |
449 |
404 |
376 |
359 |
334 |
Waste recycled/ composted |
3 |
11 |
27 |
52 |
71 |
113 |
135 |
157 |
173 |
Total waste |
397 |
428 |
450 |
507 |
521 |
517 |
511 |
516 |
507 |
This is a UK Government sustainable development strategy indicator
Household waste includes household bin waste and also waste from civic amenity sites, other household collections and recycling sites. Between 2003-4 and 2007-8 household waste per person increased a little by just 0.9 per cent, with each person generating about half a tonne on average.
The amount of waste recycled or composted has increased, and accounted for 34.5 per cent of household waste in 2007-8. There has been a year on year decrease in the amount of non-recycled waste per person over the last six years. It is now at the lowest level since estimates were first made in 1983-4 - most of this goes to landfill.
In Detail:
Further Information:
- Source:
- Defra
- Sustainable Development Indicators:
- Sustainable consumption and production: Waste
- Sustainable consumption and production: Household waste and recycling
Data Tables:
Download Chart Data: Microsoft Excel
- Internet Links:
- Welsh Assembly Government
- Scottish Environment Protection Agency
- Northern Ireland Environment Agency
- Open University: Household waste study
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Page last modified: 04 June 2009
Page published: 28 May 2007