Final yr Scotland generated its lowest quantity of family waste since 2011, in line with the most recent figures launched by the Scottish Atmosphere Safety Company (SEPA), printed on 17 October. The identical knowledge reveal a meagre 0.3 proportion level enhance in recycling ranges on the earlier yr.
The figures present element of Family Waste collected throughout all Native Authorities throughout 2022, in addition to waste landfilled and incinerated in Scotland in 2022. And it suggests a return to one thing extra like normality, after the anomalous years of 2020 and 2021, which have been impacted by restrictions.
Scottish households generated the equal of 0.43 tonnes of waste per particular person in 2022, with 0.19 tonnes recycled, 0.11 tonnes despatched to landfill and 0.14 tonnes diverted by different means, corresponding to incineration.
The whole quantity of family waste generated was 2.33 million tonnes, a lower of 148,000 tonnes (6.0%) from 2021.?Of this, 43.3% was recycled, a 0.3 proportion level enhance from 2021. The recycling determine contains recycling and reuse (657,000 tonnes) and composting (355,000 tonnes).?You may view the family waste statistics in additional element right here.
Carbon influence of Scottish households
The carbon influence of Scottish family waste generated and managed in 2022 was 5.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equal, which equates to 1.02 tonnes of CO2e per particular person. This was a lower of 6.1% (357,000 tonnes CO2e) from 2021.
As SEPA defined, this Scottish carbon metric measures the whole-life influence of assets.?”A measure of nationwide efficiency, the metric takes a holistic view, from useful resource extraction and manufacturing emissions, by to waste administration emissions. That is measured in carbon dioxide equal (CO2e).”
Waste despatched to landfill continues to lower
Scottish family waste landfilled in 2022 was 585,000 tonnes, a lower of 78,000 tonnes (11.7%) from 2021. This continues the long-term downward development, with a discount of 868,000 tonnes (59.7%) of family waste landfilled since 2011.
In 2022, Scotland landfilled 25.1% of the waste generated, down 30.7 proportion factors from 2011 when the determine was 55.8%. This comparability permits for the variation within the quantity of waste generated.
Waste recycled and diverted from landfill
The 2022 recycling charge was 43.3%, up 0.3 proportion factors from 2021 and a rise of three.8 proportion factors from the 39.6% achieved in 2011.
The bulk was recycled or reused (657,000 tonnes, 65%), with composting contributing the remaining 355,000 (35%).
The quantity of family waste managed by different diversion from landfill was 736,000 tonnes, a lower of 15,000 tonnes (1.9%) from 2021. Most was managed by incineration (604,000 tonnes, 82.0%).
What Scotland is recycling – plastic and textiles up, glass and development & soils down
The most important materials class recycled or reused in 2022 was paper and cardboard (181,000 tonnes, 27.6%). There was a lower of two.7% for these supplies recycled or reused between 2021 and 2022, which inserts with the longer-term downward development for paper and cardboard, which is down 59,000 tonnes (24.6%) from 2011.
Of the seven materials classes that comprised the very best quantity of waste recycled or reused, plastic wastes confirmed the most important enhance (up 3,000 tonnes, 4.2%) adopted by textiles (a rise of two,000 tonnes, 19.0%).
The most important reductions have been glass (a lower of 10,000 tonnes, 8.1%) adopted by development and soils (a lower of 9,000 tonnes, 8.6%).
Waste from all sources landfilled and incinerated
Additionally printed on 17 October have been statistics offering the small print of waste landfilled and incinerated in Scotland for calendar yr 2022. The corresponding knowledge set for all waste generated and recycled in Scotland throughout 2022 might be printed in March 2024.
Complete waste landfilled in Scotland
The whole amount of waste landfilled in Scotland in 2022 was 2.4 million tonnes, a lower of 631,000 tonnes (21.0%) from 2021. This continues a long-term development, with a discount of 4.7 million tonnes (66.4%) since 2005, and is the bottom annual quantity on report of waste landfilled since then.
Many of the lower was attributable to a discount in sorting residues (down 311,000 tonnes or 32.2%) and soils (down 274,000 tonnes or 29.5%). The discount follows a rise within the landfilling of those wastes in 2021, attributable to a resumption of financial exercise in Scotland following prolonged lockdowns and different restrictions attributable to Covid-19.
The quantity of biodegradable municipal disposed to landfill in 2022 was 707,000 tonnes, a lower of 174,000 tonnes (19.8%) from 2021 and a discount of 1.3 million tonnes (65.3%) since 2005. For extra element on all waste landfilled, go to SEPA’s web site right here.
Waste incinerated in Scotland
The whole amount of waste incinerated in Scotland in 2022 was 1.42 million tonnes, a rise of 67,000 tonnes (4.9%) from 2021. Sorting residues made up over a 3rd (34.7%) of this (492,000 tonnes, up 42,000 tonnes – 9.4%).
Over one third (36.4%) of waste incinerated was incinerated by restoration.? This follows the accreditation of an extra two municipal waste incineration amenities to the R1 effectivity customary in 2022, bringing the whole variety of accredited amenities in Scotland to 3. For extra element on all waste incinerated, go to SEPA’s web site right here.
David Harley, Interim Chief Officer, Round Financial system, mentioned: “Scotland is bold for a extra round financial system the place fewer assets are disposed of and far more are re-used and recycled, creating a variety of environmental, financial and societal advantages.?We’ve all obtained a job to play, from the making selections concerning the assets we use, to how we re-use and recycle – and what we eliminate.
“At SEPA we’re working intently with Scottish Authorities, Zero Waste Scotland and Scottish councils to assist enhance recyclate high quality and help Scottish waste infrastructure – these statistics are an vital measure of Scotland’s progress in the direction of a round financial system.