Figure 2.1 shows the development of recycling of MSW in the UK, both individual trends in material
recycling and organic recycling (compost and other biological treatment) plus trends in total
recycling. Total recycling increased from 12 % in 2001 to 39 % in 2010.
Recycling remains dominated by material recovery which increased from 9 % in 2001 to 25 % by
2010. More than 8 million tonnes of MSW were sent for material recovery in 2010. Although organic
recycling remains of less importance (4.5 million tonnes in 2010) it has seen an even faster growth