In the UK there has been a 38 per cent reduction in non recycled household waste per person between 2000-01 and 2009-10

Why is this important – The EU Waste Framework Directive requires the UK to recycle, compost or reuse 50 per cent of waste from households by 2020.

Household waste recycled per person (kgs): UK, 1991-92 to 2009-10

• Household waste includes household bin waste and also waste from civic amenity sites, other household collections and recycling sites. Between 2000-1 and 2009-10 household waste per person decreased by  8 per cent, with each person generating 466 kg on average.
• The amount of waste recycled or composted has increased, and accounted for 39 per cent of household waste in 2009-10.  There has been a year on year decrease in the  amount of non-recycled waste per person over the last eight years. It is now at the lowest level since estimates were first made in 1983-4, most of this goes to landfill.

Data download

The key facts publication contains a downloadable version of this page
WasteDataFlow
Sustainable Consumption and Production Indicators
Government policy on household waste
Government policy on Green economy, green business
Environment Agency
Household waste statistics in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland