What Waste Can Go to Landfill? UK Compliance & Recycling Rules

Posted on 15/12/2025

What Waste Can Go to Landfill? UK Compliance & Recycling Rules

Still wondering what you can legally throw in a skip and what definitely cannot go to landfill in the UK? You're not alone. Between POPs rules for sofas, plasterboard bans, landfill tax bands, and the never-ending list of EWC codes, it's easy to feel lost. This guide brings it all together--clearly, practically, and with the confidence of a team that's stood on wet tarmac at 6am sorting a mixed load because, to be fair, it mattered.

Below you'll find a definitive, plain-English look at what waste can go to landfill, what must be recycled or treated first, and how to stay compliant without losing your mind (or your budget). We'll cover domestic and commercial waste, UK laws, devolved rules, and proven on-the-ground tips you can use today.

Table of Contents

• Why This Topic Matters
• Key Benefits
• Step-by-Step Guidance
• Expert Tips
• Common Mistakes to Avoid
• Case Study or Real-World Example
• Tools, Resources & Recommendations
• Law, Compliance or Industry Standards (UK-focused)
• Checklist
• Conclusion with CTA
• FAQ

Why This Topic Matters

Landfill is the last resort in the UK's waste hierarchy. That's not just a slogan--it's the law-backed order of preference: prevention, preparing for re-use, recycling, other recovery (like energy from waste), and only then disposal (landfill). Getting this right reduces costs, slashes carbon, and keeps you compliant with the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and the Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2011 (and equivalents in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland).

But here's the tricky bit. Not all waste can go to landfill, and what's allowed depends on the type of landfill (inert, non-hazardous, hazardous), waste composition, and waste acceptance criteria (WAC). Throw in HMRC's Landfill Tax rates and the 2023/24 POPs seating rules, and you've got a compliance puzzle. Thankfully, it's solvable.

Small human moment: a facilities manager told us, "I wasn't expecting our old sofas to be such a headache." Truth be told, nobody does--until the rejection fee lands.

Key Benefits

Understanding exactly what waste can go to landfill (and what can't) delivers tangible wins:

• Lower costs: Avoid contamination penalties and reduce tonnage subject to standard landfill tax.
• Legal protection: Prove your Duty of Care with accurate classification, transfer notes, and compliant carriers.
• Higher recycling rates: Better segregation means more materials recovered--good for targets and the planet.
• Fewer site headaches: Loads accepted first time--no rejections, no frantic re-work on the weighbridge.
• Reputation & stakeholder trust: Demonstrate E-E-A-T in practice with verifiable, auditable waste management.

And, honestly, it just feels better when your bins and skips are clean, labelled, and working. Clean, clear, calm. That's the goal.

Step-by-Step Guidance

Let's break "What Waste Can Go to Landfill? UK Compliance & Recycling Rules" into practical steps you can follow today.

1) Identify Your Waste Streams

Start with a quick audit. Walk your site or home, eyes open. You can almost smell the cardboard dust near the storeroom and hear the clink of glass by the canteen bins. Note volumes, materials, and hotspots.

• Common streams (domestic): mixed household waste, garden waste, cardboard, plastics, glass, metals, textiles, old furniture, mattresses, DIY rubble.
• Common streams (commercial): paper/card, food waste, plastics, metals, glass, WEEE (electricals), batteries, fluorescent lamps, printer cartridges, furniture, wood, plasterboard, soils and hardcore, clinical/infectious (in healthcare), solvents/paints (in workshops).

Assign an EWC code (European Waste Catalogue) to each stream. Examples:

• 20 03 01 - mixed municipal waste
• 15 01 01 - paper and cardboard packaging
• 15 01 02 - plastic packaging
• 17 01 07 - mixed construction and demolition waste
• 17 08 02 - gypsum-based construction materials other than those mentioned in 17 08 01
• 20 01 36 - discarded electrical and electronic equipment other than those mentioned in 20 01 21, 20 01 23
• 20 01 35* - WEEE containing hazardous components (hazardous)
• 17 06 05* - construction materials containing asbestos (hazardous)

When in doubt, get advice from your collector or a competent person. A five-minute call can save a five-figure fine.

2) Sort by Landfill Category: Inert, Non-Hazardous, Hazardous

UK landfills are permitted as:

• Inert landfill: For materials that do not decompose or pollute--e.g., bricks, concrete, tiles, ceramics, uncontaminated soil. Usually attracts the lower rate of landfill tax if HMRC qualifying material criteria are met.
• Non-hazardous landfill: For municipal waste residues and non-hazardous industrial waste that meet WAC. No liquids, no POPs seating, no free-flowing powders.
• Hazardous landfill: For hazardous waste that passes WAC for hazardous cells--e.g., asbestos. Often needs pre-acceptance and specific wrapping/packaging.

Ever tried clearing a room and found yourself keeping everything "just in case"? Landfill categorisation is the opposite: be decisive.

3) Apply the "Treatment Before Landfill" Rule

The Landfill Directive requires pre-treatment of waste before landfill. In practice, that means removing recyclables or reducing the waste's environmental impact. Sorting out cardboard, metals and plastics at a transfer station counts as treatment. Mechanical-biological treatment for municipal waste counts too.

Bottom line: you can't just tip mixed waste without any attempt to recover value first. Your chosen facility will handle much of this--but your segregation on site makes all the difference.

4) Know What Cannot Go to Landfill

The list is long, but memorise the core prohibitions. It'll save you.

• Liquids (including sludges that are free-draining)
• Explosive, corrosive, oxidising, flammable wastes
• Infectious clinical wastes (specialist treatment required)
• Tyres (whole and shredded; with very limited exceptions)
• POPs-contaminated waste that must be destroyed (e.g., most upholstered domestic seating manufactured with certain flame retardants)
• Unstable chemical wastes or those that fail WAC for the intended cell

More specific bans and restrictions feature later in the law section--stick with me.

5) Decide the Best Route: Reuse, Recycle, Recover, Then Landfill

1. Reuse: furniture donation, timber reclaim, pallet return, resale of IT (data-wiped).
2. Recycle: cardboard, paper, metals, glass, many plastics, clean wood, plasterboard in dedicated streams, WEEE via approved schemes.
3. Recover: residual waste to energy-from-waste plants, RDF/SRF for specific facilities.
4. Landfill: final, compliant residues only--correct landfill type, correct documentation, correct packaging.

Yeah, we've all been there--tired at the end of a shift and tempted to throw it all in "general." Resist. Your budget (and the planet) will thank you.

6) Prepare Loads the Right Way

• Packaging: Bag loose waste where required; double-bag asbestos; wrap in clear polythene; use sealed drums for absorbent solids.
• Labelling: Include EWC code, description, and hazard pictograms for hazardous waste.
• Keep incompatibles apart: e.g., plasterboard from biodegradable general waste, POPs seating away from everything else.
• Weight and density: Don't overload. Even a helpful driver can't fix an overweight skip.

7) Do the Paperwork Properly

For non-hazardous transfers, use a Waste Transfer Note (WTN). For hazardous waste, you need a consignment note. Include:

• EWC code and description
• Quantity and packaging type
• Source and destination (with permit numbers)
• Carriers' licence number and details
• SIC code (for businesses)

Retention periods: WTNs for 2 years; hazardous consignment notes for 3 years. Simple, but often missed.

8) Choose Registered Carriers and Permitted Sites

Always check your carrier on the public register and ensure the receiving site has the right permit for your waste type. If a load is rejected, you're still legally responsible. That's the Duty of Care talking.

9) Keep POPs Front of Mind

Since 2023/24, most upholstered domestic seating (sofas, armchairs, office soft seating) is assumed to contain Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in fire-resistant foams and fabrics. POPs waste must be destroyed (typically high-temperature incineration) and cannot go to landfill. Store separately, don't shred, and use approved routes.

One client sent six sofas as "general." The load was quarantined, then re-routed for incineration. Costly, awkward, and totally avoidable.

10) Confirm Landfill Tax Position

HMRC applies Landfill Tax on disposals to landfill. As at April 2024 in England and Northern Ireland, the standard rate is ?103.70 per tonne and the lower rate (for qualifying inert materials) is ?3.30 per tonne. Scotland (Scottish Landfill Tax) and Wales (Landfill Disposals Tax) set their own rates--check current figures before pricing a job.

What Waste Can Go to Landfill? Examples by Category

Use this as a quick reality check. It's not exhaustive, but it's practical.

• Inert landfill (often lower-rate tax if HMRC-qualifying):
  • Bricks, concrete, tiles, ceramics
  • Uncontaminated soils and stones
  • Fines that pass Loss on Ignition (LOI) and other HMRC qualifying tests
• Non-hazardous landfill:
  • Residual municipal waste after treatment
  • Non-hazardous construction waste (excluding segregated recyclables)
  • Gypsum/plasterboard only in dedicated mono-cells, separate from biodegradable waste
  • Mattresses (some sites accept with surcharges and pre-approval; prefer recycling routes)
• Hazardous landfill:
  • Asbestos (double-bagged/wrapped, labelled, consigned)
  • Certain hazardous residues that meet hazardous WAC and site permit conditions

Not permitted to landfill: liquids, most tyres, infectious clinical waste, POPs seating, un-treated hazardous waste, and anything failing WAC for the intended cell.

Expert Tips

• Label streams with images--words alone won't beat a busy Monday morning.
• Bag to avoid "free liquids." Slight moisture is fine; sloshy is not.
• Keep plasterboard clean. Even small contamination can force it into general waste at higher cost and risk non-compliance.
• Check the furniture generation date. If unsure, treat as POPs. It's safer and, oddly, cheaper than a rejected load.
• Use EWC codes consistently. Changing codes confuses everyone--from drivers to regulators.
• Weigh before you book (or ask for a survey). Overweight fees sting.
• Stagger collections during refits so recyclable streams don't get crushed into general.
• Photograph loads at dispatch. Useful for disputes and training.
• For soils, get a basic contamination screen if there's any chance of hydrocarbons or heavy metals.
• Keep a simple site map showing container locations and what goes where. One page. Laminated. Job done.

It was raining hard outside that day we re-labelled an entire yard. The difference the next morning? Immediate. Fewer questions, better loads, happier drivers.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Mixing plasterboard with general waste--it reacts with biodegradable waste, creating hydrogen sulphide risks; must be separated and landfilled in mono-cells or recycled.
• Treating upholstered seating as general--POPs rules prohibit landfill; use approved destruction routes.
• Adding liquids to skips--automatic rejection at the gate.
• Using unregistered carriers--if they fly-tip, you may face prosecution.
• Forgetting WTN/consignment notes--paper trail is your protection; without it, you're exposed.
• Assuming "mattress = fine"--many sites require pre-approval or separate fees; ask first.
• Dumping tyres in general--banned from landfill; use tyre recovery specialists.
• Misclassifying soils--"clean" is a claim you must be able to stand behind. If in doubt, test.

Small aside: most costly mistakes started as little assumptions. A quick call would've fixed them.

Case Study or Real-World Example

Project: London office refurbishment, 1,800 m? across four floors

Challenge: Tight programme, mixed waste from strip-out (furniture, carpeting, partitions, WEEE, plasterboard, ceiling tiles), underground loading bay with noise limits.

What we did:

1. Ran a pre-start waste audit; set up labelled streams on each floor: cardboard, metal, WEEE, POPs seating, plasterboard, timber, general.
2. Timed collections early morning to beat traffic; used smaller RELs to suit the bay restrictions.
3. Issued EWC cheat sheets to supervisors; took photos at first uplift to guide crews.
4. Routed POPs seating to high-temp incineration; plasterboard to recycling; metals direct to scrap recovery.

Results:

• 65% recycling rate across the project
• Zero rejected loads
• Landfill tonnage down by 42% vs baseline--saving approx. ?8,000 in landfill tax and gate fees
• Completion two days early because waste didn't jam the programme (no rework), which the site manager loved

One moment sticks: you could hear the quiet hum of the lift as clearly as a sigh of relief. Less clutter. Less stress. Better work.

Tools, Resources & Recommendations

• Environment Agency guidance on Duty of Care and POPs in waste upholstered domestic seating.
• HMRC Landfill Tax (LFT) guidance (rates, qualifying materials, fines LOI testing).
• WRAP resources on waste hierarchy, segregation, and business recycling.
• SEPA, Natural Resources Wales, DAERA for nation-specific rules and registers.
• Recycle Now for public-facing materials to help staff or residents recycle right.
• Accredited labs for WAC testing and soil contamination screening when needed.
• Container labelling kits: colour-coded stickers with images--cheap and effective.
• Weighbridge reports from your provider to track performance and find hotspots.

Recommendation: set a quarterly 30-minute review. Look at contamination rates, rejected loads, and tonnage per stream. Small tweaks; big wins.

Law, Compliance or Industry Standards (UK-focused if applicable)

These are the pillars supporting everything in this guide:

• Environmental Protection Act 1990--establishes the Duty of Care for waste holders.
• Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2011--implements the Waste Framework Directive; sets the waste hierarchy and separate collection duties.
• Landfill Directive (1999/31/EC) and UK regime--requires treatment before landfill; establishes landfill classes and WAC testing.
• Landfill Tax--Finance Act 1996 and HMRC guidance (England and Northern Ireland). Devolved taxes apply in Scotland and Wales.
• POPs Regulations and EA/SEPA guidance--prohibit landfill of POPs-containing waste that must be destroyed (notably upholstered domestic seating).
• Hazardous Waste controls--classification per UK CLP and WM3 guidance; consignment notes; permitted hazardous sites only.
• Plasterboard/Gypsum--must be segregated from biodegradable waste; can only go to dedicated non-hazardous mono-cells (or be recycled).
• Tyre Ban--whole and shredded tyres are banned from landfill (with limited exceptions).
• Devolved rules:
  • Scotland: separate food waste duties for many businesses; POPs and Duty of Care aligned with EA.
  • Wales: Workplace Recycling Regulations requiring separation of key materials (including food) for collection; LDT rates differ from HMRC.
  • Northern Ireland: mirrors many EA requirements; check DAERA for details.

Compliance isn't paperwork for paperwork's sake. It's how you prove you did the right thing when asked--sometimes months later. Keep it tight.

Landfill Acceptance: WAC in Brief

Waste Acceptance Criteria (WAC) testing may be needed, especially for hazardous landfill. Labs assess leachability and other parameters to ensure the waste won't cause pollution. Not all wastes need WAC--speak to your receiving site to confirm pre-acceptance requirements.

Landfill Tax: Qualifying Materials

HMRC defines qualifying materials for the lower rate--mainly naturally occurring substances like rocks, soils, stone, plus certain ceramics and minerals, subject to tight criteria. "Fines" from processing can qualify if they pass LOI and composition tests. If it's not clearly qualifying, assume the standard rate applies.

Checklist

• Have you classified every stream with an EWC code?
• Are you segregating recyclables (paper/card, glass, metal, plastics) and organics (food) where required?
• Have you identified POPs seating and arranged destruction, not landfill?
• Is plasterboard separated from biodegradables?
• Are liquids, tyres, and infectious waste excluded from landfill streams?
• Do you have the right containers and labels on site?
• Are your waste transfer notes or consignment notes correct and filed?
• Is your carrier registered and the site permitted for your waste?
• Have you confirmed Landfill Tax rates and qualifying materials with your provider?
• Are you reviewing performance quarterly and training staff?

Tick most of those and you're already ahead of the pack. Nicely done.

Conclusion with CTA

Landfill is necessary sometimes--just less often than we think. When you understand what waste can go to landfill in the UK, and how to route everything else to reuse, recycling, or recovery, you cut costs, reduce risk, and do right by the environment. It's a practical win.

Start small: label your bins, separate the obvious recyclables, treat POPs seating carefully, and make paperwork your ally. The rest follows, step by step.

Get a free quote today and see how much you can save.

And breathe. You've got this.

FAQ

What waste can go to landfill in the UK, simply put?

Only residual wastes that can't be reused, recycled, or recovered and that meet the site's permit and WAC limits. Inert materials (e.g., bricks, concrete, clean soil) go to inert landfill; treated non-hazardous residues go to non-hazardous landfill; asbestos and certain hazardous wastes go to hazardous landfill.

Can I put a sofa or armchair in a skip for landfill?

Not as general waste. Most upholstered seating is classed as POPs waste and must be destroyed (usually high-temperature incineration). It cannot go to landfill. Ask your provider for a POPs-compliant route.

Are mattresses allowed in landfill?

Some sites accept mattresses with pre-approval and surcharges; many prefer recycling routes (steel springs, fibres). Check before you book--never assume.

Can plasterboard go to landfill?

Not with biodegradable waste. Plasterboard (gypsum) must be segregated and can only go to dedicated non-hazardous mono-cells or, ideally, be recycled. Mixing it with general waste is a common compliance fail.

Are tyres banned from landfill?

Yes--whole and shredded tyres are generally banned from landfill in the UK, subject to very limited exceptions. Use licensed tyre recovery services.

What about liquids--can they be landfilled?

No. Liquids and free-draining sludges are prohibited from landfill. Absorb and containerise when appropriate, or use liquid waste specialists.

What are the current Landfill Tax rates?

As of April 2024 in England and Northern Ireland: standard rate ?103.70/tonne; lower rate ?3.30/tonne for qualifying materials. Scotland and Wales set their own rates--check the latest figures locally.

How do I classify waste correctly?

Use the EWC code list and WM3 guidance. Identify the source, composition, and hazards. If needed, get lab analysis (for soils or complex wastes). When unsure, ask your receiving site or a competent consultant.

Can asbestos go to landfill?

Yes, but only to hazardous landfill cells permitted for asbestos. It must be double-bagged or wrapped, labelled, consigned with hazardous paperwork, and handled by trained personnel.

Do I need to separate food waste?

Businesses in Scotland and Wales have specific duties to separate food waste depending on size and sector. England is introducing consistent collections ("Simpler Recycling"). Check local requirements; separate food where mandated and preferable in any case.

What paperwork must I keep for landfill disposals?

Waste Transfer Notes for non-hazardous waste (keep 2 years) and hazardous consignment notes (keep 3 years). Keep weighbridge tickets and invoices too--they help evidence compliance and cost control.

What is WAC testing and do I need it?

Waste Acceptance Criteria testing assesses leachability and other parameters to confirm suitability for a landfill cell. It's often required for hazardous landfill and some specific wastes. Ask your receiving site during pre-acceptance.

Can mixed construction waste go to landfill?

Only after treatment and only if non-hazardous. But you'll save money by segregating metals, timber, plasterboard, and clean rubble for recycling. Landfill should be the last resort.

Is WEEE (electricals) allowed in landfill?

Not in general. WEEE should go through approved take-back or recycling systems. Items with hazardous components (e.g., screens, fridges) need specialist handling.

How do I manage "clean" soil?

Test if there's any doubt. Uncontaminated soil can go to inert landfill or be reused under the CL:AIRE Definition of Waste Code of Practice. If contaminated, different rules apply, and landfill may require hazardous classification.

Are paints and solvents allowed in landfill?

Liquid paints and solvents are prohibited; many are hazardous. Use specialist collection and treatment. Dried, empty paint tins can sometimes go as metal; check locally.

What happens if my load is rejected at landfill?

It will be quarantined and either re-sorted, re-routed, or returned--at additional cost. You remain responsible under Duty of Care, so it pays to get it right before the truck leaves.

How can I quickly reduce my landfill tonnage?

Separate cardboard and metals first (big wins), then plasterboard and WEEE. Identify POPs seating and route it properly. These four moves usually slash landfill within a week.

Final note: Regulations evolve. Always verify rates and local rules with your provider or regulator. And if you're ever unsure--ask. It's kinder on your budget and your nerves.