England only making marginal recycling improvements - latest DEFRA household waste data - Reconomy comment

 Commenting on this development, David Gudgeon, Head of External Affairs at Reconomy brand, Reconomy Connect, said:

"Household recycling rates in England have seen a marked improvement over the past two decades, but the latest figures reinforce the fact that progress has plateaued in recent years with only small, incremental gains. England is currently ranked as the 11th best recycling nation in comparison to 48 other countries around the world. Whilst any improvement in recycling is welcomed, there is a long way to go to match Wales (66% recycling) who currently sit in 2nd place. Far more has to be done as we transition to a truly circular economy. 

There is a critical need to address this stagnation, as societies continue to consume and extract virgin materials at a faster rate than the planet can regenerate. England remains heavily linear, with a significant circularity gap—characterised by an overreliance on virgin materials and insufficient focus on keeping resources in circulation and connecting waste with those who can make use of it.

While upcoming regulations—such as the Simpler Recycling legislation, due to come into effect in April 2026 for households, Extended Producer Responsibility, and the Deposit Return Scheme—will help boost recycling rates, far greater effort is needed to drive a genuine shift towards closing circularity gaps. This is essential to safeguard economic security, unlock commercial opportunities for businesses & local authorities and create a more sustainable future."