Scotland has recorded its lowest ever landfill rate, with just 19% of the country’s waste going to landfill in 2023, according to official statistics published this week (15 July) by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).
The Scottish Waste From All Sources 2023 report reveals that total waste generation fell to 9.55 million tonnes—a 7.5% decrease from the previous year and down more than 20% since 2011. The amount of waste sent to landfill dropped by over a fifth (21.1%) to 1.81 million tonnes, reflecting long-term progress in waste prevention and diversion policies.
Despite the decline in waste volumes and landfill use, the overall recycling rate in Scotland held steady at 62.2%, down slightly by 0.6 percentage points. Meanwhile, energy-from-waste incineration saw a sharp 20.2% rise, reaching a record high of 1.74 million tonnes.
David Harley, Acting Chief Officer – Regulation, Business & Environment at SEPA, welcomed the downward trend in waste and landfill use but urged greater focus on prevention and recycling.
While the figures show clear progress, they also highlight that we must focus on preventing waste in the first place and prioritising reuse and recycling over disposal
“The statistics for 2023 show that the hard work of communities, councils and businesses is paying off. We’re generating less waste and sending less to landfill than ever before,” Harley said.
“But they also highlight the scale of the climate challenge still facing us. While the figures show clear progress, they also highlight that we must focus on preventing waste in the first place and prioritising reuse and recycling over disposal.”
Harley acknowledged the role that energy-from-waste facilities now play in managing non-recyclable materials but emphasised that avoidance and circular design remain the most climate-friendly paths.
“Every tonne of waste avoided or recycled is better for the climate, for communities and for Scotland’s journey to net zero,” he said.
Shifting material flows
Soils made up the largest single waste stream in 2023 at 2.76 million tonnes, followed by household and similar waste at 1.92 million tonnes. Notably, the latter category has fallen by 1.2 million tonnes since 2011, indicating progress in reducing household and commercial waste.
Gillian Martin, Scotland’s Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action, said the new data confirmed the nation was outperforming past targets and heading toward a more circular economy.
This highlights the significant, long-term progress we are making towards a circular economy in which fewer resources are wasted.
“I welcome these statistics from SEPA which show that the overall amount of waste generated in Scotland continues to fall faster than the previous target set, and is at its lowest ever level,” she said.
“This highlights the significant, long-term progress we are making towards a circular economy in which fewer resources are wasted. This is not just good for the environment – it will also create new economic opportunities and green jobs here in Scotland.”
Martin pointed to the Circular Economy Act and the accompanying Circular Economy and Waste Route Map as key drivers of future improvement, alongside the £70 million Recycling Improvement Fund aimed at harmonising and upgrading local authority services.
Policy-driven progress
SEPA noted that much of the improvement over the last decade has been fuelled by policy changes: improved recycling collections, duty-of-care regulations requiring businesses to separate waste streams, and reductions in the frequency of residual bin collections.
Scotland’s approach is shaped by the waste hierarchy—prioritising prevention, followed by reuse, recycling, recovery (such as energy-from-waste), and landfill as a last resort.
As the country continues its push toward net zero and resource efficiency, officials warn that further action and sustained collaboration will be essential to keep momentum going—and to ensure that energy recovery doesn’t displace more sustainable options like reuse and recycling.
The full report, Scottish Waste From All Sources 2023, is available here.