Scotland's household recycling rate slipped to 42.8% in 2025 as more waste went to incinerators

Scotland's household recycling rate fell from 44.3% to 42.8% in 2025, while household waste sent for incineration rose by 49,000 metric tons, according to official figures from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).

The numbers suggest Scotland's shift away from landfill is not being matched by progress on recycling or waste prevention. Household waste sent to landfill fell another 10.3% last year and is now 84% below 2011 levels. Across all sources, 1.58 million metric tons went to landfill, the lowest amount on record.

"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," SEPA chief scientific adviser Richard Allan said, according to a piece published Tuesday by Darrel Moore in Circular Online. "This poses a serious question as to how Scotland can realise its circular economy ambitions."

Scottish households produced 2.31 million metric tons of waste in 2025, nearly unchanged from 2024 and 11% below 2011. Earlier research by Zero Waste Scotland estimated that about 52% of what goes into general household bins, including food waste, paper, cardboard and plastic, could be recycled.

Allan said more emphasis is needed on preventing waste and sorting recyclables correctly. The Scottish government's circular economy road map includes a deposit return scheme, extended producer responsibility for packaging and a forthcoming recycling code of practice.

This brief is based on reporting by Darrel Moore, published Oct. 27, 2026, in Circular Online. Read the original: https://www.circularonline.co.uk/news/scottish-household-recycling-rate-falls-to-42-8-as-incineration-rises/