Household waste generation in the UK 2015-2022, by country

Household waste generation in the United Kingdom saw a significant decrease in 2022, dropping seven percent year-on-year to 25.6 million metric tons. A decline in waste generation was observed across all four countries. England, the largest contributor, generated 21.4 million tons of household waste that year, or 83.5 percent of the UK’s output.

Household waste management trends

In 2022, waste from households recycled in the UK amounted to approximately 11 million metric tons, the lowest figure recorded since 2010. Although this result is partially associated with the decrease in waste generation, the UK’s household waste recycling rate also saw the lowest figure recorded in at least seven years, with an average of 44.1 percent. England has set a target to recycle at least 55 percent of its municipal waste by 2025.

Regional variations in waste management

While England accounts for the largest volume of household waste generated and recycled in the UK, Wales has consistently outperformed other regions in recycling efforts. In 2022, its waste from household recycling rate reached nearly 57 percent, significantly higher than the UK average. In contrast, Scotland lagged with the lowest recycling rate at 42.1 percent. Recycling rates also vary significantly within a country. In 2023, South Oxfordshire and Three Rivers district councils were the local authorities with the highest household waste recycling rates in England. In contrast, the London Borough of Tower Hamlets was the local authority with the lowest recycling rate, at 17.7 percent.