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Business waste data

Publication Reporting year When published
Business waste data 2021 2021 June 2023
Business waste data 2018 2018 July 2020

Business waste data 2017

Methodology 2017

2017 May 2019

Business waste data 2016
Methodology 2016

2016 July 2018

Business waste data 2015
Methodology 2015

2015 Sept 2017

Business waste data 2014
Methodology 2014

2014  

Business waste data 2013
Methodology 2013

2013  

Business waste data 2012 
Methodology 2012 

2012  

Business waste data 2011 
Methodology 2011 

2011  

The publication schedule for the business waste data is set out on our Waste data reporting page.

The above table shows calendar year summaries of waste generated by selected businesses in Scotland, including factories, utility and transport companies, shops, offices, hotels, restaurants, schools and hospitals. As there is no statutory duty for businesses to report to SEPA on the waste they generate, SEPA derives the information from statutory waste data received from operators of licensed and permitted waste management sites, and from operators of activities exempt from full waste management licensing.

Business waste data is a subset of commercial and industrial (C&I) waste data. As well as the businesses above, the C&I sector includes public sector organisations, such as local authorities, and construction and demolition (C&D) companies. Waste from the C&I sector is important because it is comprises about 80% of the total waste generated in Scotland. C&D waste is usually reported separately as it comprises 40-50% of the total waste generated in Scotland.

SEPA and the Scottish Government need C&I waste data for reporting to Europe under the European Union Waste Statistics Regulations, for producing Scotland’s Waste Data Discover tools, and to inform Scotland's Making Things Last – A Circular Economy Strategy for Scotland.