What happens to recycling

Thank you for recycling! In the financial year 2022 to 2023 we recycled, reused or composted 39.8% of Wiltshire's household waste (this figure has yet to be validated by external organisations).

Where your recycling goes

Recycling collected from residents in Wiltshire is sent to processors to be turned into new products.

Of the total municipal waste collected for recycling, reuse or composting by Wiltshire Council in 2022 to 2023, 97% was managed within the UK and not exported abroad. A further 2% was reprocessed within the European Union (EU) - this consisted of some paper, cardboard, plastics and household batteries. The remaining 1% was exported outside of the EU - this consisted of textiles collected at our HRCs, which were reused, and a small percentage of kerbside collected cardboard and plastics.

The End destination register (EDR) is available online or a full copy can be requested by emailing the Waste team at wasteandrecycling@wiltshire.gov.uk (opens new window).

More information on what happens to your recycling

Wiltshire Council supports the Resource Association's End Destinations Recycling Charter. This voluntary code encourages all local authorities to be open about where the waste they collect for recycling goes.

Our End destination register (EDR) contains information showing where all of the waste and recycling from residents in Wiltshire went last year. Alternatively, you can request a PDF copy by emailing the Waste team at wasteandrecycling@wiltshire.gov.uk (opens new window).

You can also view Recycle Now videos (opens new window) which show how the recycling process works and what happens next to many different materials including cans, glass and paper.

Where non-recyclable waste goes

The council works hard to reduce the waste that is sent to landfill. Recycling is not the only way that we do this.

We divert 60,000 tonnes of non-recyclable waste per year to Northacre Resource Recovery Centre (opens new window) in Westbury, Wiltshire, which converts non-recyclable waste into a fuel.

We also divert 50,000 tonnes of waste to Lakeside Energy from Waste (EfW) (opens new window) facility in Slough. This converts the waste into energy.

Recycling performance

Wiltshire's household waste recycling rate for the period 2022 to 2023 was 39.8% (this figure has yet to be validated by external organisations). This refers to the proportion of household waste that was collected for recycling, re-use and composting.

Wiltshire Council reports its waste and recycling performance. Our End destination register (EDR) contains information showing where all of the waste and recycling from residents in Wiltshire went last year.

Our contractor, Hills Waste Solutions, manages all of the waste and recycling collected from Wiltshire Council's residents. Hills regularly review and summarise this and report back annually.

Waste management strategy

The Household Waste Management Strategy 2017-2027 was formally adopted by the Council in November 2019.