Non-inert waste is biodegradable and combustible solid waste. Inert waste, largely produced by the construction industry in the form of rubble and subsoil, is counted separately. Linking waste volumes to population provides an indication of whether the amount of waste generated per person is increasing or decreasing.

This indicator addresses the first step in the internationally recognised waste hierarchy ('Reduce, Re-use, Recycle, Recover'). Managing the amount of waste we produce is the starting point. Then, we must appropriately balance re-using and recycling waste and energy recovery, prioritising alternative solutions for materials that are unacceptable for energy recovery including glass, metals and batteries.

Increase from 2020 (0.94) due to rise in material sent for recycling increasing overall volume of recorded non-inert waste. Volume of non-recyclable material reduced by 4%, that being material processed through the ERF.

Please note, since 2015 the mid year population estimates (from the Population & Migration Statistics Report 2011-2021) have been used to calculate this measure.