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SEPA is responsible for reporting national waste statistics to the Scottish Government and European Union among others. As regulator, SEPA also has a duty to assess whether waste management sites comply with the conditions of their licence or permit. To do this, SEPA collects and verifies data from a number of sources, mainly: Operators of all licensed and most permitted waste management sites Op

Publication When reported When published Household waste summary data and text, pre-release access list and quality report 2023 29th October 2024 Household waste summary data and text 2022 17th October Household waste summary data 2022 17th October Pre-release access list 2022 17th October Household waste quality report 2022 23rd October 2023 Household waste summary data and tex

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 2014Methodology 2014 2014   Business waste data 2013Methodolog

Waste from all sources Discover Data tool Household Waste Discover Data tool Last updated: 15th July 2025 Last updated: 29th October 2024 This page presents data and information on the types and quantities of waste generated and managed across Scotland.The Scotland’s Environment Waste Discover Data tool presents waste from all sources, i.e. from households, the construction and dem

The European Union Waste Statistics Regulation (2150/2002/EC) came into force in November 2002. It requires all Member States to provide data to the European Commission every two years on the generation and treatment of waste and on the number and capacity of waste management facilities. In this context, waste treatment covers incineration, recovery and disposal. The aim of the Regulation is to es

Our online application service for registering waste exemptions is now available. The table of activities you can register through this service is below. To register your exemption, you'll need the following information: the name and address of the legal entity registering the exemption; and where the activity will take place. If you have this information it should take no longer than five minut

Recycling materials has the potential to bring significant economic and environmental benefits to Scotland. The Waste (Scotland) Regulations 2012 require that all waste producers (excluding householders) take reasonable steps to present key dry recyclables such as glass, metals, plastics, paper and card (including cardboard) for separate collection. The regulations also require some food businesse

Legislation context The Waste (Scotland) Regulations 2012 set out a number of provisions which help Scotland move toward the objectives and targets set out in the Scotland’s Zero Waste Plan and help transition toward a circular economy. These provisions include a ban on biodegradable municipal waste going to landfill from the 31 December 2025 which is implemented by amending the Landfill (Scotland

Some of the reporting carried out by the Dataflows Unit is given below.  Publication Latest reporting year Publication frequency Driver Next publication due Waste from all sources Discover Data tool  2023 Annual 1 March 2026 Waste from all sources - data and quality report 2023 Annual 1 March 2026 Household Waste Discover Data tool 2023 Annual

Changes to the way we regulate The way we regulate the application of waste to land for soil improvement, including the application of treated sewage sludge, is changing. Currently these activities are regulated under two pieces of legislation: The Sludge (Use in Agriculture) Regulation 1989 Paragraph 7, 8(1) or 8(2) exemption to The Waste Management Licencing (Scotland) Regulations 2011 From 1