Waste and recycling rates

Request tonnage of waste collected and recycled by type.

Councils collect and manage household waste and recycling. Scotland’s Zero Waste Plan set a target to recycle 70% of all waste by 2025, with an earlier 60% household recycling target. Understanding how much waste your council collects and how much is actually recycled shows whether progress is being made.

Dear [AUTHORITY NAME], Please provide the following information for [FINANCIAL YEAR e.g. 2024-25]. 1. The total tonnage of household waste collected. 2. The tonnage recycled, composted, and sent to landfill or incineration. 3. A breakdown of recycled material by type (e.g. paper, glass, plastic, food waste, garden waste). 4. The overall household recycling rate achieved. I would prefer to receive this by email. Yours faithfully, [YOUR NAME]
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Who to send it to#

Your local council’s waste management department. Find the right authority on the Commissioner’s directory of Scottish public authorities. You can also send your request through WhatDoTheyKnow, which publishes responses online.

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Tips#

  • This is environmental information under the EIR. You do not need to give a reason for your request.
  • SEPA publishes some waste data at a council level. Check what is already available before submitting your request.
  • If you want to know about contamination rates (recycling that gets rejected because it is too contaminated), ask specifically. This is not usually included in standard waste figures.