ARCHIVE: e-Digest Statistics about: Waste and Recycling
Total annual waste arisings
There are two broad categories of waste, Controlled waste comprising municipal/household waste, industrial and commercial waste, and construction and demolition waste (including special wastes). Agricultural waste will be subject to the same legislative controls as other forms of waste in early 2006. Non-controlled waste comprises waste from Mining and quarrying.Household, commercial and industrial wastes are defined in Schedules 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the Environmental Protection Act (Controlled Waste Regulations) 1992 [1]. Further details of the controlled wastes are covered in more detail elsewhere.
Table 1 shows the estimated annual waste arisings for the UK by sector. Differences from figures published in previous Digests may reflect changes in definitions or methodology, not real changes in the underlying amounts of waste arising. They cannot, therefore, be used to infer trends or changes in the amounts of wastes since the earlier figures were published.
The estimate of 400 thousand tonnes of agricultural waste arisings excludes manure or straw. Manure and slurry when spread at the place of production, for the benefit of agriculture, will not be considered waste under the new controls.
Mining and quarrying waste is two-thirds comprised of quarrying, china clay extraction and collieries. The other third is clay, coal wastes and chemical residues. Most is disposed of in landfill but some can be reused as aggregate in the Construction industry.
Dredging waste is that created to maintain waterways. It is usually disposed of in lagoons where excess water drains. Some sands and silts can be removed for reuse as construction materials.
Sewage sludge undergoes treatment and then most is spread on land as fertiliser. Some densely populated areas incinerate the sludge or put it through an anaerobic digestion process to recover energy or reduce its volume.
In Detail:
- Municipal waste
- Industrial and commercial waste
- Minerals
- Sewage sludge
- e-Digest: Coastal and Marine: Dumping of wastes at sea
Further Information:
- Key Facts:
- Total Annual Waste
- Household waste and recycling
- Waste arisings and management
- Industrial and commercial waste management
- Construction and demolition waste
- Sustainable Development Indicators:
- Sustainable consumption and production: Waste
Data Tables:
| Table
No. |
Title | Download
file type |
| 1 | Estimated total annual waste arisings by sector |
- References, further reading and links to other resources:
- [1] Department of the Environment (1992). Environmental Protection Act (Control of Wastes Regulations),1992. Statutory Instrument No 588. HMSO, London.
- [2] Department of the Environment (1996). The Special Waste Regulations, 1996. HMSO, London.
- Internet Links:
- Defra, Recycling and Waste
- Environment Agency: Managing waste
- Environment Agency: Waste Statistics
- Office of the Deputy Prime Minister: Survey of arisings and use of construction and demolition waste 2001
- Office of National Statistics: Environmental Accounts
- Scottish Environment Protection Agency: Waste Data Strategy
- UK Water (sewage sludge)
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Page last modified: 13 February 2006
Page published: 13 February 2006