SEPA figures show Scotland’s household recycling rate fell by 1.5 percentage points in 2025, while incineration increased and the amount sent to landfill continued to decline.
Scotland’s household recycling rate fell from 44.3% to 42.8% in 2025, according to official statistics published by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).
Scottish households generated 2.31 million tonnes of waste during the year, 1,500 tonnes—or 0.1%—less than in 2024. The total was 11% below the level recorded in 2011.
The amount of household waste sent to landfill decreased by a further 10.3% in 2025 and was 84% lower than in 2011. However, household waste sent for incineration rose by 49,000 tonnes, or 5.7%.
The figures indicate that Scotland’s move away from landfill has not been matched by comparable progress on recycling or waste prevention.
This poses a serious question as to how Scotland can realise its circular economy ambitions
Previous research by Zero Waste Scotland estimated that approximately 52% of the material placed in general household waste bins could potentially be recycled. This included food waste, paper, cardboard and plastic.
Dr Richard Allan, SEPA’s chief scientific adviser, said the fall in landfilling represented a significant change in how household waste was managed.
“While landfill waste continues to fall and the amount of household waste we generate has decreased slightly, recycling rates have broadly stayed the same over the last eight years,” he said. “This poses a serious question as to how Scotland can realise its circular economy ambitions.”
Allan said greater emphasis was needed on preventing waste and correctly separating recyclable materials.
Across all waste sources, 1.58 million tonnes were sent to landfill in Scotland during 2025. This was the lowest amount recorded and represented a reduction of 230,000 tonnes, or 12.7%, from 2024.
Overall waste incineration fell by 1.1% year on year to 1.84 million tonnes. Despite that decrease, the quantity incinerated was 1.44 million tonnes—or 363%—higher than in 2011.
The Scottish Government’s Circular Economy and Waste Route Map includes measures intended to increase recycling and remove recyclable material from residual waste. These include the deposit return scheme, packaging extended producer responsibility and a forthcoming recycling code of practice.
