Last updated: 9 August 2023
At Cladco we realise that the UK stands at a crossroads when it comes to waste management. This is why the material we use in our Composite Decking, Cladding and Fencing is made from 60% recycled hardwood fibres and 40% recycled plastics. With each UK household now producing almost a tonne of waste every year, we take a look at how the UK currently measures up when it comes to recycling. The facts show that UK recycling is falling short of the mark.
Article Contents
Top Facts (Editors Picks)
- Waste from UK households: 27.7 million tonnes per year
- Waste per UK household: Almost 1 tonne per year
- Waste per person in the UK: 413 kg per year (over 1 kg per day!)
- Percentage of household waste that is recyclable: 80%
- Percentage of household waste that is recycled in the UK: 45%
- Municipal waste sent to UK landfill: 14 million tonnes per year
- Plastic bottle waste in the UK: 14 billion bottles per year (38 million per day!)
- Percentage of plastic bottles recycled in the UK: 59%
- Paper waste in the UK: 12.5 million tonnes per year
- Percentage of household paper waste recycled in UK: 71%
- Paper going into UK landfill: 5 million tonnes per year (40% of all landfill)
- Glass containers (jars and bottles) used in UK: 5 million tonnes per year
- Percentage of household glass waste recycled in UK: 74%
- Glass containers going into UK landfill: 14 million per day!
- Aluminum cans used in the UK: 12 billion per year
- Percentage of household aluminium waste recycled in the UK: 75%
- E-waste generated in the UK: 1.6 million tonnes per year
- Percentage of e-waste recycled in the UK: 54%
UK Waste
HOW MUCH HOUSEHOLD WASTE DOES THE UK PRODUCE?
27.7 million tonnes of household waste was produced in the UK in 2021. That’s almost 1 tonne of waste per household!
HOW MUCH WASTE DOES THE AVERAGE PERSON PRODUCE IN THE UK?
The average person in the UK produced 413 kg of waste in 2021. Over a kilogram of waste every day!
Key Statistics
- 27.7 million tonnes of household waste was produced in the UK in 2021 1.
- On average each UK household produced almost 1 tonne of waste in 2021 2.
- The average person in the UK produced 413 kg of waste in 2021 3.
- The average person in the UK produces over a kilogram of waste per day
UK Recycling
HOW MUCH WASTE COULD BE RECYCLED?
80% of household waste could be recycled. However, DEFRA figures show that only 45% of the UK’s household waste was recycled in 2021.
RECYCLING TARGETS
DEFRA has set targets for the UK to achieve a recycling rate of 60% by 2030 and 65% by 2035. 5.
Key Statistics
- 80% of household waste could be recycled 4.
- Only 45% of the UK’s household waste was recycled in 2021 1.
Landfill
HOW MUCH WASTE GOES TO LANDFILL IN THE UK?
14 million tonnes of municipal waste was sent to UK landfill in 2021. 6.8 million tonnes of this was biodegradable waste i.e. greenhouse gas producing. DEFRA has set a target for the ‘near elimination’ of biodegradable waste to landfill by 2028.
Key Statistics
- 14 million tonnes of municipal waste was sent to UK landfill in 2021 6.
- 6.8 million tonnes of this was biodegradable waste i.e. greenhouse gas producing 6.
Plastic Recycling
HOW MUCH PLASTIC IS RECYCLED IN THE UK?
37% of the UK's plastic waste was recycled in 2019. 44% was sent to energy recovery facilities and 19% was sent to landfill.
HOW MANY PLASTIC BOTTLES ARE USED EACH YEAR IN THE UK?
An estimated 14 billion plastic bottles are used each year in the UK. Equating to 38 million plastic bottles per day!
HOW MANY PLASTIC BOTTLES ARE RECYCLED IN THE UK?
An estimated 8.3 billion plastic bottles are sent for recycling every year in the UK. That’s only 59% of the estimated 14 billion plastic bottles that are used each year.
HOW MUCH PLASTIC WASTE IS GENERATED BY UK HOUSEHOLDS?
In 2020, 21 kg of plastic packaging was collected for recycling, per UK household.
Key Statistics
- 37% of the UK’s plastic waste was recycled in 2019 7.
- 14 billion plastic bottles per year are used in the UK - 38 million per day 8.
- 8.3 billion plastic bottles are sent for recycling every year in the UK - only 59% 8.
- In 2020, 21 kg of plastic packaging was collected for recycling, per UK household 9.
Paper Recycling
HOW MUCH PAPER DO WE USE EACH YEAR IN THE UK?
The UK uses 12.5 million tonnes of paper per year. The trees used would cover an area the size of Wales. The average UK family is estimated to use 6 trees worth of paper every year.
HOW MUCH PAPER IS RECYCLED IN THE UK?
71% of the paper collected from UK households was recycled in 2021 - 3.8 million tonnes.
HOW MUCH PAPER IS NOT RECYCLED?
5 million tonnes of paper waste per year ends up in UK landfill - 40% of all landfill. If 10% more could be recycled then the UK would save an additional 5 million trees per year.
Key Statistics
- The UK is estimated to use 12.5 million tonnes of paper per year 10.
- The trees used for paper each year in the UK would cover an area the size of Wales 11.
- The average UK family is estimated to use 6 trees worth of paper every year
- 71% of the paper collected from UK households was recycled in 2021 - 3.8 million tonnes 6.
- 5 million tonnes of paper waste per year is not recycled and ends up in UK landfill - 40% of all landfill 10.
- If 10% more paper waste could be recycled then the UK would save an additional 5 million trees per year 11.
Glass Recycling
HOW MUCH GLASS DO WE USE EACH YEAR IN THE UK?
5 million tonnes of glass is used in the UK every year. On average each family in the UK uses 330 glass jars and bottles per year.
HOW MUCH GLASS IS RECYCLED IN THE UK?
74% of the container glass (bottles, jars) collected from UK households was recycled in 2021. In contrast, countries such as the Netherlands and Belgium recycle over 90% of their glass waste.
HOW MUCH GLASS GOES TO LANDFILL IN THE UK?
14 million glass bottles and jars are sent to landfill every day in the UK. That equates to more than 5 billion glass bottles and jars a year and they never decompose!
Key Statistics
- 5 million tonnes of glass is used in the UK every year 4.
- On average each family in the UK uses 330 glass jars and bottles per year 10.
- 74% of the container glass (bottles, jars) collected from UK households was recycled in 2021 6.
- 14 million glass bottles and jars are sent to landfill every day in the UK 12.
- More than 5 billion glass bottles and jars are sent to landfill every year in the UK and they never decompose!
Aluminium Recycling
HOW MANY ALUMINIUM CANS DO WE USE EACH YEAR IN THE UK?
12 billion aluminium cans are used each year in the UK with the average UK household using 600 cans per year.
HOW MUCH ALUMINIUM IS RECYCLED IN THE UK?
75% of the aluminium collected from UK households was recycled in 2021.
Key Statistics
- 12 billion aluminum cans are used each year in the UK 13.
- The average UK household uses 600 aluminum cans per year 14.
- 75% of the aluminium collected from UK households was recycled in 2021 6.
Electronic Waste Recycling
HOW MUCH E-WASTE IS PRODUCED EACH YEAR IN THE UK?
E-waste is the fastest growing type of waste in the UK. The UK generates 1.6 million tonnes of e-waste per year. That’s 24 kg of electronic waste per person, per year.
HOW MUCH E-WASTE IS RECYCLED IN THE UK?
Only 54% of the e-waste generated in the UK each year is formally collected and recycled.
Key Statistics
- The UK generates 1.6 million tonnes of e-waste per year 15.
- Each person in the UK generates 24 kg of electronic waste per year 15.
- Only 54% of the e-waste generated each year in the UK is formally collected and recycled 15.
Conclusion
In this exploration of UK recycling we’ve learned that the UK is responsible for a massive 27.7 million tonnes of household waste each year. Of concern is the fact that, although 80% of this waste is recyclable, only 45% is actually being recycled. It's shocking to learn that out of the 14 billion plastic bottles consumed in the UK annually, only 59% are recycled. Facts such as these highlight an urgent necessity for the UK's recycling strategies to be improved.
Sources
1. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1164900/table1.csv/preview
2. Calculated using following figures: No. of UK households in 2021 = 28.1 million (ONS)
3. Calculated using following figures: UK household waste 2021 = 27650000 tonnes (DEFRA), UK population 2021 = 67,026,292 (ONS)
4. https://www.recyclingbins.co.uk/recycling-facts/
5. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/progress-report-on-recycling-and-recovery-targets-for-england-2020/progress-report-on-recycling-and-recovery-targets-for-england-2020
6. https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/uk-waste-data/uk-statistics-on-waste
7. https://plasticseurope.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/PlasticsEurope-CircularityReport-2022_2804-Light.pdf
8. https://www.recoup.org/p/444/uk-household-plastic-packaging-collection-survey-2022
9. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1155474/average-plastics-collection-rates-per-household-per-year-uk/
10. https://www.recycle-more.co.uk/what-can-i-recycle/recycling-facts
11. https://flexible-storage.co.uk/blog/how-much-paper-gets-wasted-in-the-uk-each-year
12. https://www.businesswaste.co.uk/waste-services/recycling/fun-recycling-facts-for-children/
13. https://www.emswasteservices.co.uk/waste-recycling-here-are-some-interesting-facts/
14. https://www.wastecare.co.uk/9-shocking-statistics-about-waste/
15. https://www.itu.int/hub/publication/d-gen-e_waste-01-2020/