Last month on Rubbish Talk Episode 123, we asked the question: Is Scotland running out of space for residual waste?
Now, that conversation has reached BBC Radio Scotland, with Rubbish Talk host and waste management consultant Alasdair Meldrum joining the programme to discuss the growing pressures on Scotland’s landfill capacity.
And the situation is becoming increasingly concerning.
What’s happening with Scotland’s landfill capacity?
During the interview, Alasdair explained that in 2025 there were ten main landfill sites handling much of Scotland’s waste. That number has since reduced significantly, with the remaining sites facing a range of challenges.
While much of Scotland’s household waste is contracted to Energy from Waste facilities, that doesn’t remove the need for landfill.
There are still waste streams from businesses, commercial premises and industry that are not suitable for Energy from Waste and require an appropriate disposal route.
Current estimates discussed during the interview suggest that the available landfill void space could last only until spring or summer 2027.
As Alasdair put it, the waste sector should effectively be viewed as the “fourth utility”. If the waste sector cannot function, the impact is felt across countless other businesses and industries.
Are we making the most of our recycling infrastructure?
Landfill capacity is only one side of the conversation.
Scotland has invested significantly in household recycling infrastructure, but Alasdair questioned whether we are making the most of what is already available.
Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland, he said:
“We probably have one of the best recycling infrastructures available at household level, any place in the world and we’re still sitting at 50% recycling… we should be sitting at least 80%.”
Better recycling could significantly reduce the amount of residual waste requiring either landfill or Energy from Waste.
Food waste is a good example. Alasdair highlighted that food still makes up a significant proportion of household residual waste, despite separate food waste collections being available across much of Scotland.
Infrastructure alone isn’t enough. Education and participation are just as important if we want to reduce the amount of waste requiring disposal.
Waste is already travelling hundreds of miles
One of the more concerning points raised during the interview was the distance some waste is already travelling to find available disposal capacity.
Alasdair explained that waste is currently travelling around 250 miles into England for disposal, while operators are already contacting the industry because they have waste at their sites and are struggling to find somewhere to take it.
Sending Scotland’s waste elsewhere isn’t a long-term answer either.
As Alasdair explained, England is facing its own capacity pressures, and simply exporting the problem to England or elsewhere does not solve the underlying issue.
How worried should we be?
Towards the end of the interview, Alasdair was asked whether we could reach a point where rubbish begins piling up because there is nowhere for it to go.
His response highlighted the seriousness of the situation:
“I’m more worried about this than I ever have been in my career.”
With 37 years working in the waste sector, that’s a statement worth paying attention to.
Scotland has ambitious plans around recycling and the circular economy, but there also needs to be recognition of the waste being produced today and the infrastructure required to manage it.
Catch up on Rubbish Talk Episode 123
We explored this issue in much more detail in Episode 123 – Is Scotland Running Out of Space for Residual Waste?
If you want to understand what’s happening with Scotland’s residual waste capacity, why landfill is still required and the challenges the sector could face over the coming years, catch up with the full episode:
Click Here to Listen to Episode 123
The conversation around Scotland’s waste infrastructure isn’t going away – and as capacity becomes increasingly constrained, it’s one the industry needs to keep having.