Residual waste sent to landfill in England decreased by 15.3%, from 45.5 million tonnes to 38.5 million tonnes, between 2019 and 2023.
Official statistics released by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) show the latest estimates of residual waste and municipal residual waste generated in England between 2019 and 2023.
Table: Residual waste, million tonnes, England, 2019 to 2023
| Year | Residual waste, million tonnes | Percentage change year-on-year | Percentage change from 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 64.4 | – | – |
| 2020 | 58.1 | -9.7% | -9.7% |
| 2021 | 61.6 | 6.0% | -4.3% |
| 2022 | 59.8 | -3.0% | -7.1% |
| 2023 | 58.7 | -1.9% | -8.9% |
The statistics show the estimated amount of residual waste in England was 58.7 million tonnes in 2023. This represented a 1.9% decrease from 2022 (59.8 million tonnes), and a decrease of 8.9% from 2019 (64.4 million tonnes).
Between 2019 and 2023, the amount of residual waste sent to Energy-from-Waste (EfW) plants increased by 15.2%, from 16.1 million tonnes to 18.6 million tonnes.
Between 2019 and 2023, the estimated amount of residual waste sent to landfill decreased from 808.3kg per person to 667.5kg per person – a decrease of 17.4%.
The long-term residual waste reduction target commits the UK Government to ensuring that by 31 December 2042, the total mass of residual waste excluding major mineral wastes in England does not exceed 287kg per person.
Commenting on the statistics, Diane Crowe, Group Sustainability Director at Reconomy, said: “Today’s data is a mixed bag – the 15.3% drop in landfill waste is a step in the right direction, but the 2027 targets are increasingly looking out of reach.
“It’s clear we need to pick up the pace in embedding circular practices. Waste generation is harmful because it loses the value of resources and puts pressure on finite natural materials.
“Government, industry, and consumers must work together to drive real change – making waste reduction a priority and embedding circularity into every stage of the supply chain.”
