Electronic waste recycling rate in United Kingdom

United Kingdom: Electronic waste recycling rate was 86.2% in 2018. ▲ Rising

Latest (2018)
86.2%
Change on year
up 5.0%
World rank
10th
of 41 countries
All-time high
86.2%
in 2018
All-time low
76.0%
in 2008
Years of data
8
2007–2018

Electronic waste recycling rate in United Kingdom, 2007–2018

0204060802007201220182007: 77.6 %2008: 76 %2009: 77.7 %2014: 80.6 %2015: 80.9 %2016: 81.6 %2017: 82.1 %2018: 86.2 %

Source: United Nations Statistics Division and United Nations Environment Programme – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.

Analysis

In 2018, electronic waste recycling rate in United Kingdom stood at 86.2%. That is the highest value across all 8 years on record.

The figure is up 5.0% on the previous year and up 13.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, electronic waste recycling rate in United Kingdom peaked at 86.2% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 76.0%, in 2008.

United Kingdom ranks 10th of 41 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

Electronic waste recycling rate in United Kingdom, year by year

Annual values for Electronic waste recycling rate in United Kingdom, 2007 to 2018.
Year % Change
2007 77.6%
2008 76.0% -2.1%
2009 77.7% +2.2%
2014 80.6% +3.7%
2015 80.9% +0.4%
2016 81.6% +0.9%
2017 82.1% +0.6%
2018 86.2% +5.0%

United Kingdom compared with similar countries

  • United Kingdom's 86.2% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 83.1%, 1.0× the median. (32 countries reporting)
  • United Kingdom's 86.2% is above the median for high income countries, which is 81.4%, 1.1× the median. (37 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 77.1% 76.0% 77.7% 3
2010s 82.3% 80.6% 86.2% 5

Countries ranked near United Kingdom

  1. 7 Slovakia 88.9% compare
  2. 8 Luxembourg 88.0% compare
  3. 9 Poland 87.6% compare
  4. 10 Spain 86.2% compare
  5. 12 Estonia 85.7% compare
  6. 13 Germany 85.6% compare

See the full ranking of 41 places →

More environment data for United Kingdom

All data for United Kingdom →

Frequently asked questions

What is electronic waste recycling rate in United Kingdom?
Electronic waste recycling rate in United Kingdom was 86.2% in 2018, according to United Nations Statistics Division and United Nations Environment Programme – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest electronic waste recycling rate recorded in United Kingdom?
The highest recorded value was 86.2% in 2018.
What is the lowest electronic waste recycling rate recorded in United Kingdom?
The lowest recorded value was 76.0% in 2008.
How does United Kingdom rank for electronic waste recycling rate?
United Kingdom ranks 10th out of 41 countries with data for 2018.
Is electronic waste recycling rate rising or falling in United Kingdom?
Over the last ten years it is up 13.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division and United Nations Environment Programme – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Electronic waste recycling rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Electronic waste recycling rate in United Kingdom. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division and United Nations Environment Programme – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 23 September 2026, from https://environment.statizoid.com/stat/electronic-waste-recycling-rate/united-kingdom/

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About this data

Indicator
Electronic waste recycling rate
Unit
%
Source
United Nations Statistics Division and United Nations Environment Programme – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
41 places, 467 data points, 2000–2023
Last refreshed

Proportion of electronic waste recycled (%).