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Headline data

National recycling rate (as a proportion of waste collected)
Year Value Units GeoCode Observation status Unit multiplier
2010 40.3580152784 Percentage (%) Normal value Units
2011 42.8948446578 Percentage (%) Normal value Units
2012 43.8718054188 Percentage (%) Normal value Units
2013 44.0757652333 Percentage (%) Normal value Units
2014 44.8425979028 Percentage (%) Normal value Units
2015 44.1016835447 Percentage (%) Normal value Units
2016 44.5631777879 Percentage (%) Normal value Units
2017 44.8434838401 Percentage (%) Normal value Units
2018 44.2974195873 Percentage (%) Normal value Units
2019 45.2323997057 Percentage (%) Normal value Units
2020 43.5668219762 Percentage (%) Normal value Units

Source: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA)

Geographical Area: United Kingdom

Unit of Measurement: Percentage (%)

Footnote: Recycling rate exlcudes IBAm (Incineration bottom ash metal)

This table provides metadata for the actual indicator available from UK statistics closest to the corresponding global SDG indicator. Please note that even when the global SDG indicator is fully available from UK statistics, this table should be consulted for information on national methodology and other UK-specific metadata information.

Indicator available

Not available for this indicator
Indicator description

National recycling rate as a proportion of waste collected
Geographical coverage

United Kingdom
Unit of measurement

Percentage (%)
Definitions

Not available for this indicator
Available disaggregations

Not available for this indicator
Calculations

Recycling rate = ‘Recycled’ as a percentage of ‘Arisings’, excluding IBAm (Incineration bottom ash metal)
Other information

Data follows the UN specification for this indicator. This indicator has been identified in collaboration with topic experts.
Data last updated 27 February 2023
Metadata last updated 27 February 2023

This table provides information on metadata for SDG indicators as defined by the UN Statistical Commission. Complete global metadata is provided by the UN Statistics Division.

Indicator name

National recycling rate, tons of material recycled
Target name

By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse
UN designated tier

Tier II
UN custodian agency

United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD), UN Environment (UNEP)
Link to UN metadata United Nations Sustainable Development Goals metadata for target 12.5 opens in a new window

Source 1

Organisation

Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA)
Periodicity

Annual
Earliest available data

2010
Geographical coverage

United Kingdom
Link to data source ENV23 - UK statistics on waste opens in a new window
Release date 11 May 2022
Next release

01/04/2023: We plan to update indicator data within 4 months of data being released
Statistical classification

Official Statistic
Contact details

WasteStatistics@defra.gov.uk
Other information

Waste from Households, UK and country split, 2010-20
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