Landfill Trends Dashboard Update (July 2025)
The full article (see link below) summarises some of the key trends in the latest available data regarding landfill in England:
1. Overall Decline in Landfilled Waste: Since 2019, the volume of waste entering landfill sites across England has shown a steady downward trend, including all landfill categories (inert, non-inert and hazardous wastes). This decline reflects a gradual shift in waste management practices, though England still sends a substantial amount of waste to landfill.
2. Faster Decline in Non-Inert Waste: Recent data shows a more rapid decline in waste volumes received at non-inert landfill sites compared to inert ones. This is attributed to escalating landfill tax rates (especially for non-inert and hazardous waste) and the increasing availability of alternative treatments like energy from waste (EfW) and enhanced recycling.
3. Diminishing Landfill Capacity: England’s available landfill capacity has decreased by 33% since 2014, and specifically, the biggest capacity reductions are observed in non-inert and hazardous waste sites. This reinforces the impact of policies and economic measures aimed at diverting these waste streams.
4. Regional Disparities in Landfill Volumes: Despite the national decline, some counties or sub-regions experienced an increase in landfill volumes between 2022 and 2023. These increases are likely linked to local population growth and major infrastructure projects that generate large volumes of waste, particularly inert material.
5. Landfill Dependency in London and the South East: A significant proportion of landfilled waste, especially soil and stones (EWC 17 05 04), originates from London, the South East, and the East of England. This indicates a regional concentration of landfill dependency, often related to construction and infrastructure activities in these high-growth areas.