Recycling increases in Wales

Newly released figures show that recycling has increased again in Wales.

The recycling rate has gone up from 66.6 per cent in 2023-24 to 68.4 per cent in 2024-25.

This data is the first published since new workplace recycling measures were introduced in Wales. These rules require all businesses, public and third sector workplaces and collectors to keep key recyclable materials separate.

Since these regulations were implemented, an extra 8,187 tonnes of recyclable material has been collected from workplaces by local authorities – up 42 per cent on the previous year. Residual waste collected from workplaces has also dropped by 15.8 per cent.

Only 0.7 per cent of waste was disposed of via landfill in 2024 to 2025.

Wales is ranked second in world for recycling, behind Austria.

Over half of Welsh local authorities met the 2024 to 2025 statutory target of 70 per cent of waste being recycled, while over 90% reported an increase in their recycling rate compared with the previous year.

Deputy First Minister with responsibility for Climate Change, Huw Irranca-Davies said: "We continue to build on Wales’ already world class recycling. This shows the huge shift in attitudes over the last few decades; recycling is now a part of who we are as a nation.

"We’ve backed our commitment with over £1bn of investment since devolution which has seen recycling rates increase exponentially ever since.

"I’m proud of every person in Wales who has played their part in getting us to where we are today – in our homes and now in our workplaces too. Thank you for joining this collective effort."