Information - This Indicator is an official statistic in development and has been published in order to facilitate user involvement in its development – information on how the data have been obtained and how the indicator has been prepared is available via the link(s) in the 'Readiness and links to data' section. We would welcome any feedback, particularly on the usefulness and value of this statistic, via 25YEPindicators@defra.gov.uk.
J4: Residual waste arising by type and sector
Short Description
This indicator shows how much waste generated in England is landfilled, incinerated or sent for energy recovery, rather than recycled, reused or treated further up the waste hierarchy. Data presented are captured through the Environment Agency’s permitted site data, and annual monitoring reports and international waste shipments data. There are still gaps in the data and these will need to be addressed in order to provide reporting by source sector.
Readiness and links to data
This indicator is not available for reporting in 2024 in a finalised form. An interim indicator is presented here that shows waste generated in England that is landfilled or incinerated, or used in energy recovery. This indicator excludes major mineral wastes. The data are presented on both a per capita basis (J4i) and total tonnage (J4ii). Data are available via the statistical notice Estimates of Residual Waste (excluding Major Mineral Wastes) and Municipal Residual Waste in England.
These source data are currently published as official statistics in development as there may be refinements to the methodology following the introduction of digital waste tracking. We would welcome any feedback on these statistics, particularly on their usefulness and value, via 25YEPindicators@defra.gov.uk.
Notes on indicator
For the purposes of this indicator, residual waste refers to waste generated in England that is sent to landfill in the UK, put through incineration in the UK, used in energy recovery in the UK, or sent outside the UK for energy recovery.
Figures reported for the years 2020 to 2022 are not directly comparable to those reported from 2010 to 2018 due to methodological differences, and therefore comparisons should be made with care. For both components of indicator J4, there are 2 values available for the year 2019. The value for 2019a was derived from the 2010 to 2018 method, and 2019b is based upon the new method. Further detail on the methodological differences is available in the statistical notice underpinning the indicator presented here.
Indicator components
Figure J4i: Residual waste (excluding major mineral wastes) per capita in England, 2010 to 2022
Table J4i: Residual waste (excluding major mineral wastes) per capita in England, 2010 to 2022
| Year | Put through incineration (including Energy from Waste) | Sent outside the UK for energy recovery | Sent to landfill |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 112.84 | 0.00 | 467.54 |
| 2011 | - | 0.00 | 434.35 |
| 2012 | 131.50 | 0.00 | 397.15 |
| 2013 | - | 0.00 | 357.60 |
| 2014 | 158.14 | 0.00 | 313.62 |
| 2015 | 189.27 | 51.50 | 276.48 |
| 2016 | 210.51 | 58.11 | 263.17 |
| 2017 | 233.27 | 57.55 | 245.57 |
| 2018 | 256.54 | 56.99 | 245.85 |
| 2019a | 271.91 | 50.20 | 244.62 |
| 2019b | 286.68 | 50.20 | 237.96 |
| 2020 | 299.29 | 30.90 | 219.90 |
| 2021 | 307.39 | 26.42 | 243.03 |
| 2022 | 306.84 | 25.16 | 226.82 |
Trend description for J4i
In 2022, the per capita quantity of residual waste (excluding major mineral wastes) was 559 kg per person, a small reduction on levels in 2019 (575 kg per person). Due to a methodological difference, levels of residual waste prior to 2019 are not comparable, however between 2010 and 2019, the amount of residual waste sent to landfill and put through incineration reduced to a low of 457 kg per person in 2015, before increasing to 517 tonnes in 2019 (under the old methodology). The amount of residual waste sent outside the UK for energy recovery remained steady between 2015 and 2019 (from 51.5 to 50.2 kg per person). With the methodology used for the data for 2019 to 2022, this waste stream reduced from 50.2 to 25.2 kg per person.
Assessment of change
No assessment of change was undertaken for this indicator as a suitable time series is not yet available in the Outcome Indicator Framework. In previous years, a short-term assessment was presented for J4, however due to the methodology change in 2019, there are not currently enough datapoints available to carry out an assessment over this time period
Figure J4ii: Residual waste (excluding major mineral wastes) in England, 2010 to 2022
Table J4ii: Residual waste (excluding major mineral wastes) in England, 2010 to 2022
| Year | Put through incineration (including Energy from Waste) | Sent outside the UK for energy recovery | Sent to landfill |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 5.94 | 0.00 | 24.61 |
| 2011 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 23.07 |
| 2012 | 7.04 | 0.00 | 21.25 |
| 2013 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 19.28 |
| 2014 | 8.60 | 0.00 | 17.05 |
| 2015 | 10.37 | 2.82 | 15.15 |
| 2016 | 11.64 | 3.21 | 14.55 |
| 2017 | 12.97 | 3.20 | 13.66 |
| 2018 | 14.35 | 3.19 | 13.75 |
| 2019a | 15.29 | 2.82 | 13.76 |
| 2019b | 16.12 | 2.82 | 13.38 |
| 2020 | 16.86 | 1.74 | 12.39 |
| 2021 | 17.38 | 1.49 | 13.74 |
| 2022 | 17.52 | 1.44 | 12.95 |
Trend description for J4ii
In 2022, the amount of residual waste (excluding major mineral wastes) was 31.9 million tonnes, a small decrease on levels in 2019 (32.3 million tonnes). Due to a methodological difference, levels of residual waste prior to 2019 are not comparable, however between 2010 and 2019, the amount of residual waste sent to landfill or put through incineration reduced from 30.6 million tonnes to a low of 25.5 million tonnes in 2015, before increasing to 29.0 million tonnes in 2019. The amount of residual waste sent outside the UK for energy recovery remained steady between 2015 and 2019 (remaining at 2.8 million tonnes). With the methodology used for the data for 2019 to 2022, this waste stream reduced from 2.8 to 1.4 million tonnes.
Assessment of change
No assessment of change was undertaken for this indicator component because when sufficient data are available, the assessment will now be based on the residual waste per capita data presented in component J4i.