Industrial and Commercial Waste Arisings in Wales 2007

The survey of industrial and commercial (I&C) waste arisings in Wales for 2007 calendar year was carried out by Urban Mines, and managed by Environment Agency Wales, on behalf of the Welsh Assembly Government.

Data was collected from around 1,500 business sites between August 2008 and January 2009 throughout Wales.  The Office for National Statistics' data showed that there was around 71,400 business sites in Wales in 2007, with 8 per cent in industrial sectors and 92 per cent in commerce. Sixty per cent of these companies had less than four employees and 2% had more than 100 employees. 

• Welsh industrial and commercial sectors generated an estimated 3.6 million tonnes of waste. 
• 53 per cent was industrial waste
• 43 per cent was commercial businesses
• In addition, 1.8 million tonnes of “non-wastes” were produced, specifically blast furnace slag and virgin timber.

The most significant type of I&C waste was mixed wastes, 31.3 per cent,  followed by non-metals 24.2 per cent, mineral wastes 16.6 per cent, and animal and vegetable wastes 11.2 per cent.

The survey estimated a total of 259,740 tonnes of hazardous waste was generated in Wales. This is 7.3 per cent of waste arisings (excluding non-wastes), split approximately 42 per cent from industrial businesses, 58 per cent from commercial businesses. Main waste types included chemical wastes, mixed ordinary wastes and mineral wastes.

Excluding non-wastes:

• 1.4 million tonnes, 38 per cent, was recycled 
• 348,000 tonnes, 9.7 per cent, was re-used
• 51,000 tonnes 1.4 per cent, was composted
• 50,000 1.4 per cent was sent for thermal treatment 
• 1.4 million tonnes, 39.1 per cent was disposed of via landfill.

A significantly lower proportion of industrial waste (excluding non-wastes) was sent to landfill, 29.0 per cent, compared to commercial waste 50.5 per cent.  Also, more industrial waste was recycled, re-used, composted and land recovered 63.2 compared to only 37.5 per cent for commercial waste.  

• Survey of Industrial & Commercial Waste Arisings in Wales 2007 (PDF, 2.13MB)
• Survey of Industrial & Commercial Waste Arisings in Wales Data (Excel, 425 KB)