Welcome to the website of the ESA – the voice of the waste and resource management industry.
The Environmental Services Association (ESA) works on behalf of our Members to support and promote the waste and resource management industry. We work with governments, parliaments and regulators to bring about a sustainable system of waste and resource management for the UK.
Our industry provides services which are essential to modern life. The companies that make up the sector collect the waste produced by households and businesses across the UK, treat the waste responsibly, and turn a large percentage of that waste into new resources and energy for the nation.
In recent years the industry has transformed itself. Ten years ago, over three-quarters of Britain's waste went to landfill (compared to well under 50% today) and waste management was chiefly focused on the logistics of collection and transport. While these still matter, the industry has developed a range of technologies to treat waste and extract value from it. Innovation is a constant feature of modern waste management.
ESA is at the forefront of debates about waste prevention and recycling, playing a vital role in driving higher standards within our industry.
The sector at a glance
- Total turnover: £11bn
- Direct Employment: 142,000 people
- Municipal waste handled each year: over 26 million tonnes
- Energy generated (from waste combustion and landfill gas) each year: approximately 6,500 GWh, 1.5% of the UK's total electricity supply and over 25% of our renewable electricity.
- Greenhouse gas emissions down by 70% since 1990.
- The top seven companies account for over 50% of turnover. Many hundreds of SMEs provide either localised or more specialised services
