Waste Watch
Download the latest edition of our Waste Watch report - a fascinating insight into where your waste and recycling is sent and what it's turned in to.
We publish performance reports on a quarterly basis (four times per year).
These reports provide detailed information and insights into the waste handled by the SLWP on behalf of the four partner boroughs and enable comparisons with previous years to be made.
Areas covered by the performance reports include:
- Total amount of residual waste treated
- % of residual waste treated via energy recovery vs landfill
- Beddington Energy Recovery Facility (ERF) emissions performance summary
- Kilograms collected per household and per person
- Amount of waste brought to each of the six HRRC sites
- % of waste brought to each HRRC site that is recycled
- Availability of booking slots (for HRRCs in Kingston, Merton and Sutton)
- Amount of paper and card recycling treated
- Amount of container mix recycling (plastics, glass, cans and cartons) treated
- Amount of fully co-mingled (mixed recycling collected from some flats) treated
- Recycling composition and contamination levels
- Total tonnages treated per month
- Total tonnages treated per month
- Composition of street sweepings (recyclable vs non-recyclable)
- Tonnage details dating back to 2014/15
Download copies of the performance reports using the links below.
2025
Performance report for the period 1 April – 31 December 2025
Performance report for the period 1 April – 30 September 2025
Performance report for the period 1 April – 30 June 2025
(reports download in Adobe PDF format)
Waste Watch
The Waste Hierarchy
Most preferred environmental option
Reducing waste is the most preferred option. Minimising the amount of waste we produce in the first place is by far the most effective way of reducing the impact we have on the environment.
When waste is created, the waste hierarchy prioritises reuse. Where possible, reusing products and materials before it becomes waste is the next best option. By cleaning, repairing and refurbishing items, we can significantly increase the number of things we reuse.
Recycling is the most environmentally sustainable solution when it comes to disposing of waste. Recycling essentially turns our waste into new items or products, reducing the amount of raw materials required.
For waste that can’t be re-used or recycled, energy recovery is the next best option. Energy from waste is the process of incinerating non-recyclable waste to produce electricity. It helps to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels for power generation and decreases carbon emissions.
At the bottom of the waste hierarchy is the least desirable option: disposal. This is when waste is either sent to landfill or treated in an older-style incinerator that doesn’t recover energy from the process. Disposal should always be the last resort for waste.
Least preferred environmental option
