Will we run out of landfill space in the UK?

How long do we have left until we are at full capacity?

In the UK, estimates typically range from six to eight years; but local authorities have been saying this since at least 2010, and we aren’t there yet. This is because EU directives have steadily increased the landfill tax, so councils have been driven to recycle more and more of their waste.

How much landfill is there in the UK?

There are approximately 540 UK landfill sites operating as of January 2024. Each landfill is specialised for a certain type of waste and ranges in purpose and maximum capacity. The UK’s landfill capacity is dwindling and estimates vary, but some sources suggest that with current waste generation and landfill rates, the UK could run out of landfill space within a few years. For example, one environmental report stated that waste going to landfill could be at risk of overflowing landfills by 2022, however, we have surpassed that date; other sources suggest we have more time, with estimates ranging from six to eight years.

There are a number of factors that affect our landfill sites which could mean we will run out of landfill space in the UK:

Regional variations: Landfill capacity is not uniform across the UK. Some regions, like London, have very limited capacity, while others, like Yorkshire and the Humber, have more available space.

 Waste generation and landfill rates: The UK generates a significant amount of waste, and a substantial portion of it ends up in landfill. For example, one source estimates that approximately 220 million tonnes of waste is generated per year, with about 50.6 million tonnes going to landfill.

Factors impacting capacity: Landfill capacity is impacted by several factors, including the amount of waste generated, the rate at which landfills are filled, and the availability of new landfill sites. Finding new sites is challenging due to environmental and community concerns.

 Alternative waste management strategies: The UK is also exploring alternative waste management strategies, such as incineration and energy from waste plants, to reduce the amount of waste going to landfills.

The role of recycling: The UK has also seen improvements in its recycling rates, with more waste being diverted from landfills and recycled, largely due to the additional costs put on councils.

Historic landfill sites: In addition to the current landfills, there are also thousands of older, disused landfills in the UK that pose potential environmental risks. When we consider how long it takes certain materials to break down, this could take many decades.

What you can do to help

Here at Recycled Clothing Banks, we work with many organisations, private businesses and local authorities to try and recycle and reuse as many textiles as possible. How do we do this? By providing FREE branded clothing recycling bins to communities across the region. We do this to protect our planet and to ensure we don’t run out of landfill space in the UK.

By helping us to keep clothing, shoes and household textiles out of landfill you can support our mission to help the environment and slow down the harmful effects of landfill use. All you need to do is install one of our recycled clothing bins at no cost to you.