Scotland's recycling rate falls to 42.8%, lowest in five years

2025 figures miss 70% target by a wide margin as landfill use drops and incineration plateaus

By LineZotpaper AI staff

Published27 October 2026

Updated27 October 2026

Read Time2 min

Sources3 outlets

Scotland's household recycling rate fell to 42.8% in 2025, its lowest level in five years and far short of a 70% target set in a 2010 government roadmap, according to figures from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa).

The rate dropped from 44.3% in 2024, Sepa reported. The share of waste sent to incineration remained broadly steady at 82%, while the amount sent to landfill fell by 10%. A total of 2.31 million tonnes of household waste was generated in 2025, down just 1,500 tonnes from the previous year.

Recycling rates varied widely by local authority. South Ayrshire residents recycled 55% of their waste, compared with 26% in Glasgow and 18.2% in Orkney, the lowest figure recorded.

The figures do not reflect the full impact of long-term repairs to the Glasgow Recycling and Renewable Energy Centre in Polmadie, which was shut down in April 2026, diverting waste to other incinerators or landfill. The centre is operated by Viridor, along with a facility at Dunbar.

Karen MacCormick of Viridor said incineration with energy recovery is a more sustainable option than landfill. "When it's in landfill you've got the landfill gasses, you've got methane, etc. This is a more sustainable way of dealing with the waste, coming through an energy recovery facility, and obviously we can create something at the end of it which is low carbon energy going straight to the grid," she said.

Sepa's chief scientific officer, Dr Richard Allan, described the figures as highlighting an "ongoing challenge". He said: "It's clear that where waste ends up is important, but we need to focus on preventing waste in the first place and recycling more of that material when it is produced."

Kim Pratt, senior circular economy campaigner at Friends of the Earth Scotland, called it a "shocking decline" and said Scotland had "lost its way". She said recycling levels had stalled since the Scottish government encouraged a new generation of waste incinerators, meaning "household waste which could have been recycled is being burned instead".

A deposit return scheme for bottles and cans, which has boosted recycling rates in other countries, has been repeatedly delayed. A landfill ban originally due at the start of 2026 has been effectively delayed to 2028. The Scottish government has been approached for comment.

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Household recycling rates by local authority, 2025

Source: Sepa

Analysis

Why This Matters

Scotland's recycling rate has stalled at around 45% for more than a decade, while a 2010 roadmap aimed for 70% by 2025, raising questions about the effectiveness of current waste policy.
Landfill space in Scotland is running out, and the delayed landfill ban to 2028 puts pressure on incineration capacity, with possible consequences for waste disposal costs and environmental outcomes.
The wide variation in rates between councils suggests inconsistencies in collection services may be confusing households, limiting overall recycling performance.

Background

In 2010 the Scottish government set a roadmap targeting a 70% recycling rate for 2025, but the rate has never come close. Over the past decade, the share of waste sent to incineration has grown rapidly as energy-from-waste plants were built, reducing reliance on landfill. A landfill ban scheduled for the start of 2025 has been effectively postponed to 2028. A deposit return scheme for bottles and cans, expected to increase recycling, has faced repeated delays. The shutdown of the Polmadie incinerator in Glasgow for long-term repairs in April 2025 added further disruption.

Key Perspectives

Viridor (waste management company): Incineration with energy recovery is more sustainable than landfill because it avoids methane emissions and produces low-carbon electricity for the grid. Friends of the Earth Scotland: The decline shows Scotland has "lost its way"; the government's encouragement of waste incinerators has displaced recycling, and new circular economy targets must be backed by genuine commitment and planning.

What to Watch

The Scottish government's expected consultation on new circular economy targets later this year, and whether it will adjust the delayed landfill ban or introduce binding recycling mandates.
Progress on the deposit return scheme for bottles and cans, which has been repeatedly postponed and could significantly shift recycling rates if introduced.
The reopening timeline for the Polmadie incinerator and how waste flows adjust in the interim, affecting both recycling and landfill volumes.

Sources

Scotland's recycling rates fall to lowest level in five years · BBC News
Scotland's recycling rates fall to lowest level in five years · BBC News
Scotland's recycling rates fall to lowest level in five years · BBC Scotland

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 11 supported.

Show each claim

SupportedScotland’s household recycling rate was 42.8% in 2025.BBC News: “households recycled 42.8% of waste in 2025”
SupportedThe 42.8% rate was Scotland’s lowest in five years.BBC News: “Scotland's recycling rate has fallen to its lowest level in five years”
SupportedThe 2025 rate fell far short of a 70% target in a 2010 Scottish government roadmap.BBC News: “According to a roadmap set by the Scottish government in 2010, recycling rates should have hit 70% last year but are falling well short.”
SupportedThe rate fell from 44.3% in 2024 to 42.8% in 2025.BBC News: “households recycled 42.8% of waste in 2025 - down from 44.3% the previous year.”
SupportedThe share of waste processed at an incinerator remained broadly the same at 82%.BBC News: “The share of waste processed at an incinerator remained broadly the same at 82%”
SupportedThe amount diverted to landfill fell by 10%.BBC News: “the amount being diverted to landfill fell by 10%.”
SupportedHouseholds generated 2.31 million tonnes of waste in 2025, 1,500 tonnes less than the previous year.BBC News: “A total of 2.31 million tonnes of waste was created by households in 2025, which represents a fall of just 1,500 tonnes.”
SupportedKaren MacCormick said: “When it's in landfill you've got the landfill gasses, you've got methane, etc. This is a more sustainable way of dealing with the waste, coming through an energy recovery facility, and obviously we can create something at the end of it which is low carbon energy going straight to the grid,”BBC News: “When it's in landfill you've got the landfill gasses, you've got methane, etc. This is a more sustainable way of dealing with the waste, coming through an energy recovery facility, and obviously we can create something at the end of it which is low carbon energy going straight to the grid.”
SupportedDr Richard Allan said the figures highlight an “ongoing challenge” and called for preventing waste and recycling more of it.BBC News: “Sepa's chief scientific officer, Dr Richard Allan, says the figures highlight an “ongoing challenge” with how waste is managed. He added: “It's clear that where waste ends up is important, but we need to focus on preventing waste in the first place and recycling more of that material when it is produced.””
SupportedKim Pratt called the decline “shocking” and said Scotland had “lost its way”.BBC News: “Kim Pratt, senior circular economy campaigner at Friends of the Earth Scotland, said there had been a “shocking decline” in recycling rates. She said this showed that Scotland had “lost its way””
Partly supportedThe figures do not reflect the full impact of long-term repairs to the Polmadie centre, which shut down in April 2026 and led to waste being diverted to other incinerators or landfill.BBC News: “The figures do not reflect a disruption to Scotland's waste management by the long-term repairs being carried out to the incinerator at Polmadie in Glasgow. The Glasgow Recycling and Renewable Energy Centre in Glasgow was shut down in April this year, with much of the waste being diverted to other incinerators or landfill.”
SupportedThe landfill ban, originally due at the start of 2026, has effectively been delayed to 2028.BBC News: “this has not happened quickly enough to meet a landfill ban which was due to come in at the start of the year. It has now been effectively delayed to 2028.”

Correction

27 October 2026An earlier version of this story said the Glasgow Recycling and Renewable Energy Centre shut down in April 2025 and the landfill ban was originally due at the start of 2025. The centre shut down in April 2026, and the ban was originally due at the start of 2026.