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Key facts

What a waste!

• Around 1.8 million tonnes of municipal waste was collected by local authorities in Wales during 2006/07.

Where does it all go?

• 27.6% is recycled or composted
• Less than 1% is used to recover heat and power
• Over 68% is still landfilled – it is buried in the ground.   

More than 60% of the waste produced by households can be recycled, by taking part in recycling you can help to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill.

Household waste: The total amount of household waste produced in Wales increased from 518 kg per person in 2003-04 to 537 kg per person in 2004-05*.

Landfill: An estimated 3.6 million tonnes (28 per cent) of controlled waste (comprising of household, commercial and industrial waste) produced in Wales was disposed of in landfill sites during 2002-03*

Household Waste recycling and composting: Recent figures show that the rates for municipal waste in Wales being recycled or composted has risen from 12.6 per cent in 2002-03 to 27.6 per cent in 2006-07.

*(Source: Sustainable Development Indicators for Wales 2006, National Assembly for Wales)