The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, known as DEFRA, gathers statistics on household waste in the UK. It found that more than 26 million tonnes of household waste is produced in the UK each year. Of this, 14 million tonnes get sent to landfill, with the remaining 12 million tonnes being recycled.

1. UK WASTE: LANDFILL AND
RECYCLING FACTS
DUNCANCLARK

2. 2
The Department for
Environment, Food and
Rural Affairs, known as
DEFRA, gathers statistics on
household waste in the UK.
DUNCAN CLARK
Renovare Fuels
UK WASTE: LANDFILL
AND RECYCLING FACTS

3. 3
One of the biggest areas of
household waste in the UK is food.
Around 7 million tonnes of food
waste is thrown away each year,
equating to £7.5 billion of waste.
It found that more than 26 million tonnes
of household waste is produced in the
UK each year. Of this, 14 million tonnes
get sent to landfill, with the remaining 12
million tonnes being recycled.
RECYCLING TARGETS
Scotland currently recycles around 43% of
household waste, England 44%, Northern
Ireland 46%, and Wales 57%. A target was
set by the UK government for at least 50%
of all waste across the UK to be recycled by
2020. While recycling rates are increasing,
so is the population, meaning more
resources are being produced and more
waste is being created.
FOOD WASTE
One of the biggest areas of household
waste in the UK is food. Around 7 million
tonnes of food waste is thrown away each
year, equating to £7.5 billion of waste.
Much of this could be recycled through
food banks, as animal feed or through
charities, and at least half of all food waste
could be turned into usable compost.

4. You can learn more about a new waste-to-
energy carbon capture and storage project
that has recently been signed off in Norway
by visiting the blog of Duncan Clark, Renovare
Fuels’ Business Development Director.
DUNCAN CLARK