The household recycling rate stood at 44.3% in 2024, with the latest figures highlighting continued challenges in increasing recycling.
Scottish households generated 2.31 million tonnes of waste in 2025, a decrease of 1,500 tonnes (0.1%) compared with the previous year.
The amount of household waste generated has fallen by 11% since 2011, when the current time series began.
Research by Zero Waste Scotland previously found that around 52% of material placed in general household waste bins could potentially be recycled. This includes food waste, paper, cardboard and plastics.
Dr Richard Allan, SEPA’s Chief Scientific Advisor, said recycling rates had broadly remained stable over the past eight years.
He commented: “This poses a serious question as to how Scotland can realise its circular economy ambitions. It’s clear that where waste ends up is important, but we need to focus on preventing waste in the first place and recycling more of that material when it is produced.”
Waste sent to landfill falls
The quantity of household waste sent to landfill fell by 10.3% in 2025, continuing a longer-term decline. Scotland has reduced the amount of household waste sent to landfill by more than 84% since 2011.
Across all waste types, 1.58 million tonnes were landfilled in Scotland in 2025, a decrease of 230,000 tonnes (12.7%) compared with 2024. This was the lowest recorded annual total.
The reduction was largely driven by a 216,000-tonne (38.5%) fall in sorting residues sent to landfill. Construction waste sent to landfill also decreased, by 15,000 tonnes (34.2%).
Allan added: “There has been a major shift over the last 15 years in the way household waste is being managed and disposed of across the country.
“Waste headed to landfill has fallen significantly by 84% since 2011, representing a significant achievement and demonstrating what can be achieved when households, local authorities, government and businesses work towards a shared goal.”
Household waste incineration increases
While landfill continued to decline, the amount of household waste incinerated increased by 5.7% in 2025, equivalent to 49,000 tonnes.
Across all sources, 1.84 million tonnes of waste were incinerated in Scotland in 2025, a decrease of 1.1% compared with the previous year.
Despite the slight annual fall, incineration has increased substantially since 2011, rising by 1.44 million tonnes (363%) over the period.
Household and similar wastes accounted for the largest share of material incinerated in Scotland, totalling 857,000 tonnes, or 46.5% of the overall amount.
Allan said the latest figures showed that, although Scotland had made significant progress in reducing landfill and slightly reducing the amount of waste generated, further work was needed to increase recycling.
He explained: “We know there is still considerable untapped potential, outlined by the Zero Waste Scotland research showing much more of our general waste bins could potentially be recycled.
“That includes many everyday items we all use and consume like food waste, paper, cardboard and plastics.
“If we can place further emphasis on ensuring these items are disposed of correctly, it will help reduce environmental impacts, move closer towards a sustainable future and reap the environmental, economic and societal benefits that come with it.”
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