Waste
Data up to 2006 for the UK are presented in the national indicator
(a) Million tonnes of municipal waste generated per person
in 1990, 2000 and 2005
UK and selected countries
(b) Disposal methods of municipal waste, 2005 or latest year
UK and selected countries
Notes:
(a) This chart shows the proportions of a measured total of municipal waste disposed of using various methods.
(b) Data on municipal waste collected are usually gathered through surveys of municipalities responsible for waste collection and disposal, or from transport companies that collect waste and transport it to a disposal site.
(c) The sum of the different types of waste disposal may be greater than 100 per cent because; (i) waste disposal facilities may be used for other types of waste, or (ii) of double counting owing to the landfilling of the residues of incineration, or to the incineration of residues from composting.
- There was an increase in the amount of municipal waste generated per person in eight of the 12 selected countries between 1990 and 2005. In the UK there was a 23 per cent increase. The largest increase was in Norway where municipal waste per person rose by 60 per cent.
- Between 2000 and 2005 there has been little or no change in the amount of municipal waste per person in the UK and five other countries. There were increases in five countries and a reduction in the US.
- In 2005 the municipal waste generated in the UK was 0.58 tonnes per person, higher than the OECD average of 0.53 tonnes per person (not shown).
- In 2005, the UK recycled and composted 27 per cent of its municipal waste, the second lowest percentage of the 12 countries for which data were available and landfilling accounted for 64 per cent of UK municipal waste disposal.
- Data up to 2006 for the UK are presented in the national indicator
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Updated: 31 July 2008