Quality Report for Waste Incinerated in Scotland 2024
An Official Statistics Publication for Scotland
Published on 28th October 2025 9:30 AM
Incineration 2024
Introduction
This report describes the methodologies used to produce summary data on waste incinerated in Scotland for the 2024 calendar year. The report should be used alongside the 2024 Waste incinerated in Scotland official statistics commentary document.
The 2024 data are presented as follows:
The Waste incinerated in Scotland and associated data tables are presented in an online commentary document. This describes the major trends and provides an interpretation of the data.
Scotland’s Environment Waste Discover Data tool presents the waste from all sources (WFAS) data in an interactive and visual format and is found on Scotland’s Environment web. This tool covers the total waste managed, whether it be waste from households, waste from construction and demolition, or waste from commerce and industry. It includes the incineration dataset.
The WFAS Discover tool is updated once yearly, in about March, when all data for Scottish waste generated and managed, of which waste incinerated in Scotland is a subset, becomes available. The waste incinerated in Scotland statistics are released about six months before the annual update of the WFAS Discover tool. This is because the incineration data comes primarily from one discrete dataset and, in line with the Code of Practice for Statistics which provides that statistics should be released as soon as they are considered ready, can be prepared and published earlier than the WFAS.
Data sources referred to at various parts of the document are listed below. The agency that carries out the analysis of the dataset is provided in brackets.
Scottish licensed/permitted waste site returns (SEPA)
Annual PPC permit monitoring reports (SEPA)
List of appendices
Appendix 1 provides a fuller description of the dataset(s) included in Waste incinerated in Scotland.
Appendix 2 provides a summary of the coding of waste using the European Waste Catalogue (EWC) and European Waste Catalogue for Statistics (EWC-Stat), which are used throughout this document.
Appendix 3 provides a glossary of terms.
Appendix 4 provides a list of acronyms.
Revisions Policy
Revisions could occur for various reasons, including when data from third parties are unavailable or provisional at the time of publishing or if there are subsequent methodological improvements or refinements. The figures are accurate at the time of publication. However, the data may be updated if further revisions are necessary. Normally these revisions will be published concurrent with the next release. Where there have been changes in methodology for the waste data tables, the complete dataset is revised for all years to ensure that comparisons between years are valid.
Reporting
This section describes how we report waste incinerated in Scotland. A list of Scottish incinerators / co-incinerators is maintained and checked with SEPA regulatory staff annually, prior to starting the analysis. The number of operational sites used in the final 2024 analysis, along with the number that reported quarterly using the SEPA licensed / permitted waste site return form and the number that reported annually via PPC monitoring reports supplied to SEPA is shown in Appendix 1.
Incinerator sites vary significantly in size. For a list of operational and non-operational sites with the annual authorised capacities, refer to SEPA’s waste capacity report.
Data submissions were collected, processed and checked by SEPA staff with the assistance of various automation and visualisation tools. SEPA carried out quality assurance of the dataset by comparing individual site data with previous quarters/years, reviewing the consistency of EWC codes with the description of waste provided by the operator, and checking for missing data.
The methodologies for calculating both waste recovered and waste disposed by incineration are the same.
EWC Codes
Waste data are supplied as EWC codes, which are aggregated into final EWC-Stat reporting categories. Waste types are separated into non-hazardous/hazardous using European Waste Catalogue (EWC) codes. Where EWC codes were missing on PPC monitoring reports, SEPA regulatory staff checked the permitted waste type(s) and assigned tonnage to the most appropriate EWC code based on the information available.
Geographical origin
The geographical origin of the waste is reported in Table B (Waste inputs to site) of the licensed/permitted waste site return. For any sites that complete Table C4 of the licensed/permitted waste site return, to report on wastes incinerated after being treated on-site, the waste origin is not reported. It was assumed that wastes reported in Table C4 had an origin of Scotland. In 2024 there were three sites that reported waste incinerated in Table C4. For sites which provide data via PPC monitoring reports, origin of waste is not a reporting requirement. SEPA regulatory staff provided estimates (% splits) based on their knowledge of the site.
Waste recovered by incineration and co-incineration within Scotland
- “Recovered by incineration” means that waste has been incinerated at a facility that has been accredited as meeting the energy efficiency standard of a recovery facility (R1 facility) as defined in Annex II of the EU Waste Framework Directive.
- “Recovered by co-incineration” means that waste has been incinerated at a facility that normally generates energy from the incineration of non-waste sources such as coal or gas and where the waste is used as an additional fuel. This may include, for example, a cement kiln that normally uses natural gas as an energy source. For co-incinerators, we exclude any non-waste fuels from our analysis.
Waste incinerated by disposal within Scotland
- “Disposed by incineration” means that waste has been incinerated at an incineration facility that is not accredited as meeting the energy efficiency standard of a recovery facility, and therefore falls under Annex I disposal operations of the EU Waste Framework Directive (D10 facility - incineration on land). It should be noted that a facility classified as D10 does not imply that energy recovery is not undertaken at the facility. It may be that energy recovery occurs but not to the efficiency standard specified in the Directive, or the facility meets the efficiency standard of the Directive, but the operator has not applied for the accreditation.
Accredited facilities
The total number of facilities in Scotland accredited by SEPA as a recovery incinerator (R1) under the definition of the Waste Framework Directive is shown in Table 1. As the incineration process, and therefore recovery efficiency, has not changed in the lifetime of these R1 incinerators, data for all the R1 incinerators were revised and recorded as incineration by recovery for their entire operational time series. Table 1 also shows, for Scotland, the number of co-incineration facilities, the number of incinerators classed as D10 disposal and, of the total, the number that are municipal waste incinerators in Scotland.
Notes:
- The population of sites in any given year excludes sites listed as non-operational. For a list of operational and non-operational sites refer to SEPA’s waste capacity report.
- The number of municipal waste incinerators is made up of Recovery (R1) and Disposal (D10) incineration facilities.
Appendix 1
Datasets used in the 2024 methodology
Data on waste incinerated in Scotland were compiled from two sources: licensed/permitted waste site returns (waste data returns) and PPC annual monitoring reports. A brief explanation of each is given below.
Scottish licensed/permitted waste site returns
Most incinerators submit quarterly waste data returns to SEPA via email and the number using this route has increased over recent years (Table 2. All new incinerators report using quarterly waste data returns, as do all incinerators which incinerate municipal waste.
The waste data return form consists of Table B (Waste inputs to site), Table C (Waste treated on site), Table C4 (Waste landfilled or incinerated after treatment on-site – landfill or incineration sites only) and Table D (Waste sent off site). A copy of the return form can be downloaded from the SEPA website. The returns dataset is managed and checked by SEPA.
PPC Annual Monitoring Report
Some incinerator permits do not contain a condition to submit a quarterly waste data return. For these sites, a summary of waste incinerated over the year was obtained from the PPC annual monitoring report. The annual monitoring report is provided by the permit holder, and contains a summary of emissions to the environment over the duration of the year, monitoring of emissions, in addition to a summary of waste inputs. Details of waste incinerated in the annual monitoring report is generally less detailed than the quarterly waste data return, for example, there is little or no geographic information about the origin of waste incinerated.
The numbers of facilities submitting data via waste data returns and annual PPC monitoring reports, and the tonnages received via each reporting route, is shown in Table 2.
Notes:
The population of sites in ay given year that submit data returns excludes those listed as non-operational. For a list of operational and non-operational sites refer to SEPA’s waste capacity report.
Appendix 2
European Waste Catalogue
Throughout this document reference is made to both the European Waste Catalogue (EWC) list of wastes and European Waste Catalogue for Statistics (EWC-Stat). A brief explanation of each is given below, along with links to further information.
European Waste Catalogue List of Waste (EWC 2000)
The EWC 2000 is a harmonised, non-exhaustive list of waste types established by the European Commission (2000/532/EC) as amended in 2015 (2014/955/EU). The list is used to categorise wastes based on a combination of what they are, and the process or activity that produces them.
The list is divided into 20 chapters, most of which are industry-based, although some are based on materials and processes. Each chapter is represented by a two-digit code between 01 and 20 and comprises one or more subchapters. Individual waste types are detailed in the subchapters and are assigned a six-digit code that comprises two digits for the chapter, two for the sub-chapter and two for the waste type.
Hazardous wastes are designated by entries where the EWC code is terminated by an asterisk (*).
The use of EWC codes to describe waste on waste transfer notes in Scotland has been statutory since April 2004. Most statutory waste data returns received by SEPA, including licensed/permitted waste site returns, exempt activity returns, and special waste consignment notes require waste to be classified according to the EWC 2000 (as amended).
European Waste Catalogue for Statistics (EWC-Stat)
The EWC-Stat is a (mainly) substance-oriented statistical classification of waste established by the European Commission (2004/574/EC). The EWC-Stat contains thirteen categories, each represented by a two-digit code between 01 and 13. These are sub-divided into individual waste types.
A table of equivalence allows wastes coded in the EWC 2000 (as amended) to convert into the EWC-Stat. However, because of the way the coding system operates, it is not possible to do the reverse conversion.
Appendix 3
Glossary
EWC Code – a six-digit code listed in the European Waste Catalogue. These codes are used to identify and classify waste into different categories. They are structured as three pairs of numbers, each representing chapters, sub-chapters, and individual entries. For example, 12 01 06*.
Hazardous Waste – waste with hazardous properties which may render it harmful to human health or the environment. Hazardous waste is also called Special Waste in Scotland, as defined in the Special Waste Regulations 1996.
PPC Permit – a permit issued by SEPA under the Pollution Prevention and Control (Scotland) Regulations 2012.
Waste From All Sources (WFAS) – waste from commercial and industrial sources, construction and demolition sources, and household sources.
Waste incinerated by co-incineration – wastes used primarily as a fuel and incinerated at an incineration facility in which the main purpose is the generation of energy or production of material products (e.g. cement), and which uses waste as an additional fuel.
Waste incinerated by disposal – wastes incinerated at an incineration facility where the energy efficiency has not been demonstrated to meet the R1 criteria specified in the EU Waste Framework Directive (Directive 2008/98/EC).
Waste incinerated by recovery – wastes used principally as a fuel to generate energy and incinerated at an incineration facility where the energy efficiency has been demonstrated to meet the R1 energy efficiency criteria specified in the EU Waste Framework Directive (Directive 2008/98/EC).
Waste incinerated – WFAS that is incinerated in Scotland including waste incinerated by recovery, waste incinerated by co-incineration and waste incinerated by disposal.
Appendix 4
Acronyms
EWC: European Waste Catalogue
EWC-Stat: European Waste Catalogue for Statistics
PPC: Pollution, Prevention and Control
SEPA: Scottish Environment Protection Agency
WFAS: Waste from All Sources
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