Bruna Alves
Research lead covering environment and sustainability
Household waste in England - statistics & facts
Efficient waste management is an essential element for granting both environmental protection and human health. In England, local authorities have a duty to collect household waste materials, such as organic waste, paper and cardboard, textiles, plastics, and electronics. England is currently responsible for generating roughly 85 percent of household waste in the United Kingdom each year. Household waste is treated in a number of different ways, including landfilling, incineration, and recycling.
Due to the slowdown in recycling, England failed to meet its recycling target of 50 percent by 2020. If it is to reach the recycling rate targets of 55 percent of municipal waste by 2025, and 65 percent by 2035, considerable progress will be needed. Recycling targets for packaging have also been set, with 65 percent of packaging to be recycled by 2025. One such way in which the country aims to improve recycling is to implement Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) systems by 2025, which are expected to significantly increase the collection rate of plastic bottles. UK-based recycling will also be promoted.
How much waste do households in England produce?
In 2021, households in England generated some 23.1 million metric tons of waste, or the equivalent to roughly 400 kilograms of household waste per capita. Nevertheless, the amount of residual waste collected per household varies widely by region. In the 2022 financial year, households in the North East generated the most waste at more than 600 kilograms. In contrast, households in the South West generated the least, at around 490 kilograms. London households stood below the English average of 547 kilograms that year.Household waste recycling in England
Household recycling rates in England experienced steady growth in the first decade of the century, rising from 11 percent to more than 42 percent. However, rates have plateaued since then. After peaking at 45.5 percent in 2019, England’s waste from households recycling rate dropped to 44 percent in 2020. According to officials at the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA), this reduction was caused by the outbreak of COVID-19 and its subsequent impacts on the waste management industry. 2021 saw limited improvement. In contrast, the recycling rate in Wales increased in the period to 56.7 percent in 2021 – the highest recorded in the UK.Due to the slowdown in recycling, England failed to meet its recycling target of 50 percent by 2020. If it is to reach the recycling rate targets of 55 percent of municipal waste by 2025, and 65 percent by 2035, considerable progress will be needed. Recycling targets for packaging have also been set, with 65 percent of packaging to be recycled by 2025. One such way in which the country aims to improve recycling is to implement Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) systems by 2025, which are expected to significantly increase the collection rate of plastic bottles. UK-based recycling will also be promoted.
