UK targets

  • Reduction in the amount of Biodegradable Municipal Waste going to landfill by 35% from the 1995 baseline tonnage by 2020[1].
  • Recycle at least 50% of household waste by 2020[2].
  • Packaging waste - To recover a minimum of 81% by 2019; 82% by 2020; with the following targets on the seperate materials [3]:

Recycling targets:

Materials 2018 (%) 2019(%) 2020(%)
Glass 78 79 80 - Plastic 53 55 57
Aluminium 58 61 64
Steel 79 82 85
Paper/Board 71 73 75
Wood 38 43 48


A revised legislative framework on waste entered into force in July 2018 as part of the EU Circular Economy Package. The new targets are as follows:

  • Recycling of 65% of municipal waste by 2035
  • Reduction in the amount of of municipal waste sent to landfill to a maximum of 10% by 2035.
  • Targets for the recycling of packaging waste have also been published but these are not as stringent as those currently required under the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) (Amendment) Regulations 2017 as shown above.

Wales

The Municipal Waste targets for Wales are:

  • 70% of waste to be used, recycled or composted by 2024/25
  • 30% of energy created by waste by 2024/25
  • Landfill restriction of 5% of waste being sent to landfill by 2024/25
  • Wales to achieve zero waste (i.e. 100% recycling) by 2050.

The Commercial and Industrial Waste targets for Wales are:

Scotland

References