England: household waste composition 2016-2020

In 2020, some 22.6 million metric tons of waste from households was treated in England. Of this total, 56 percent was residual waste, while dry recycling waste types such as paper, glass, plastics and WEEE, accounted for just over a quarter. The composition of waste from households in England has remained stable over the years, with residual waste typically accounting for more than half the total waste treated annually.

Composition of waste from households in England from 2016 to 2020, by waste type

Characteristic	Residual waste	Dry recycling	Other organics	Separately collected food waste
2020	55.7%	26%	15.8%	2.1%
2019	54.2%	26.6%	17%	2%
2018	55.1%	26.6%	16.2%	1.9%
2017	54.7%	26.4%	17.1%	1.7%
2016	55%	26.5%	16.8%	1.6%

Loading statistic...

Download

Source

Show detailed source information?

Already a member?

Sources

Use Ask Statista Research Service

Release date

December 2021

More information

Region

United Kingdom (England)

Survey time period

2016 to 2020

Supplementary notes

Residual waste includes residual ‘waste from households’ regular collections (black bags), bulky waste, residual waste from civic amenity centers, and rejects from recycling. It excludes waste diverted for recycling from residual waste.
Dry recycling includes paper and card, glass, plastic, waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), scrap metals including those reclaimed from incinerator bottom ash as well as other materials.
Other organics includes green garden waste, mixed garden and food waste, wood for composting and other compostable waste. Numbers may not add to exactly 100. This is due to rounding.

Citation formats