In an effort to minimize waste in England, household waste recycling has been implemented intensely. By 2017, the household waste recycling rate had increased significantly, reaching 43.7 percent. However, it is also important to note that 4.4 million metric tons of household food and drink waste was avoidable in 2015.
In 2016/17, the Local Authority had collected a total waste volume of 26.21 million metric tons. Of this, up to 11.53 million metric tons was intended for recycling and composting purposes and approximately four million metric tons of the waste was collected for landfills. With regards to the incinerated waste, the Local Authority had collected 224 thousand metric tons worth. Taking these figures into account, the Local Authority recycling rate had amounted to 42.9 percent that year.
To deal with waste management more efficiently, there has been a consistent year-on-year increase in public expenditure. By the end of 2017, the UK government had allocated 8.34 billion British pounds for waste management purposes.
Of UK enterprises in the waste collection, treatment, disposal activities and materials recovery sector, 45 had more than 250 employees in 2017. While 445 enterprises within this sector had recorded a turnover of more than five million British pounds the same year.
