The Environment Agency’s annual data for permitted waste management activities indicates the total tonnages of waste managed in England in 2016 increased in comparison to the previous year.
The data, released today (6 September), shows that 203 million tonnes of waste was managed last year, compared to 191.1 million tonnes managed in 2015.
Waste Management 2016: Trends from 2000 to 2016 (source: Environment Agency)
In terms of landfill, in 2016, 44.7 million tonnes was sent to landfill in England, a marginal increase on the 43.9 million tonnes in 2015.
In total, 340 landfill sites accepted waste – only three less sites than recorded the previous year. Despite this, remaining landfill capacity has stayed relatively static at 465 million cubic metres in 2016, a slight decrease from 471 million cubic metres capacity for the 12 months previous.
Capacity
However, the data shows that landfill capacity has been steadily decreasing from 2000 when over 700 million cubic metres of landfill capacity was recorded.
The total input material at recoded at incinerators has also increased. Inputs received at the 81 operational incinerators in England was 11.6 tonnes in 2016. The permitted capacity at the end of 2016 at operational incinerators was 15.5 million tonnes.
In 2015, data showed incineration inputs were 10.4 million tonnes at 79 facilities and permitted capacity at the end of the year was 14.2 million tonnes.
The Environment Agency reports that 4.93 million tonnes of hazardous waste was managed in England in 2016, of which 29% was recovered.
Related links
The full report is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/waste-management-for-england-2016