Report: Environmental Health Increases, Consumption Decreases in the UK

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Summary: Waste arising - UK generates lower waste

Total waste

The UK generated an estimated 313.6 million tonnes of waste in 2008, 28.5 million tonnes (8.3 per cent) lower than in 2006. The amount of waste reduced as:

• non-household waste fell by 27.6 million tonnes to 282.1 million tonnes
• household waste fell by 1.0 million tonnes to 31.5 million tonnes 

Waste arising by sector

Source: Office for National Statistics

Material productivity

Source: Office for National Statistics

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Summary: Natural Resource and Products Use - UK Material Productivity Increases

Summary: Acid Rain - Emissions fall in 2009

UK Acid Rain Precursor Emissions

Source: Office for National Statistics

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Total Emissions

The UK emissions of chemicals that can cause acid rain decreased by 12.4 per cent in 2009, compared with 2008, to 2.2 million tonnes – the lowest level since records began in 1990. This breaks down as follows:

• emissions from the UK companies and the public sector decreased by 12.1 per cent to 2.0 million tonnes
• emissions from households decreased by 15.8 per cent to 0.2 million tonnes

Non-household

Emissions of chemicals that can cause acid rain from the non-household sector accounted for 91.4 per cent of total acid rain emissions in 2009. This was mainly due to emissions from transport and communication industries; agriculture, forestry and fishing; electricity, gas and water industries; and manufacturing industries, which together accounted for 89.6 per cent of the non-household sector.

Emissions from the non-household sector decreased by 0.3 million tonnes in 2009, compared with 2008, primarily due to a fall in emissions from the transport and communication industry; manufacturing industry; and electricity, gas and water industry. Emissions by these industries decreased by 0.3 million tonnes in 2009, mainly due to a fall in Nitrogen Oxides ( NO_X ) and Sulphur Dioxide (SO₂). The manufacturing industry recorded the largest percentage fall (17.5 per cent) in emissions in 2009, compared with 2008, partly due to a fall in the economic activity.

A sharp fall, 67.4 per cent, in acid rain emissions from the non-household sector between 1990 and 2009, mainly reflects the move away from coal towards nuclear generated electricity and gas fired plants.

Household

Emissions of chemicals that can cause acid rain from the household sector decreased in 2009, compared with 2008, mainly due to a fall in Nitrogen Oxides ( NO_X ) and Sulphur Dioxide (SO₂). Emissions caused by Nitrogen Oxides ( NO_X ) fell by 22.6 per cent, and emissions caused by Sulphur Dioxide (SO₂) fell by 10.1 per cent.

Emissions from the household sector decreased by 68.6 per cent to 0.2 million tonnes between 1990 and 2009. The main source for this fall was Nitrogen Oxides ( NO_X ), which fell by 76.6 per cent during this period. 

Source: Office for National Statistics

Background notes

1. Acid rain contains sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and ammonia.
   For more information, e-mail environment.accounts@ons.gov.uk

Further information

Environmental accounts, 2011 - 2011

Environmental Accounts bulletin, 2011 - 2011

Material productivity

The UK material productivity increased in 2009, compared with 2008, as domestic material consumption fell more than GDP .  The UK’s domestic material consumption – the quantity of natural resources used by the UK economy – decreased by 68.7 million tonnes, the largest fall since records began in 1970, to 566 million tonnes in 2009, compared with 2008.

Domestic material consumption decreased as:

·          consumption for minerals fell by 51.0 million tonnes to 220 million tonnes

·          consumption for fossil fuels fell by 15.4 million tonnes to 208 million tonnes

·          consumption for biomass fell by 2.13 million tonnes to 130 million tonnes

Minerals

Domestic extraction decreased by 51.4 million tonnes, mainly due to a fall in extraction of crushed stones, and sand and gravel. Exports decreased by 4.1 million tonnes, while imports decreased by 3.6 million tonnes.

Fossil fuels

Domestic extraction decreased by 13.7 million tonnes, mainly due to a fall in extraction of natural gas, and crude oil. Imports decreased by 3.7 million tonnes and exports decreased by 2.0 million tonnes.

Biomass

Imports decreased by 2.9 million tonnes and exports decreased by 1.4 million tonnes, whereas domestic extraction remained unchanged.

Much of the period from 1990 to 2007 had seen strong economic growth in the UK with increased material productivity. However, material use has fallen in relation to the level of economic activity. This in part reflects the increasing importance of the service industries in the UK economy. Gross domestic product overall decreased in 2009 and material use fell. The fall in demand mainly for primary aggregates – crushed stones, and sand and gravel - coincided with the contraction in output of the construction industry in 2009.

Source: Office for National Statistics

Background notes

1. The concept of material productivity is used to assess progress towards sustainable development. It is presented in terms of the relationship between material use and economic activity, calculated by dividing Gross Domestic Product in real terms by Domestic Material Consumption ( DMC). 
   
   
2. Domestic material consumption = domestic extraction + imports – exports
3. For more information, e-mail environment.accounts@ons.gov.uk
   
   

Summary: UK Energy Consumption - Energy Intensity Falls in 2009

Energy Consumption and Gross Domestic Product

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Energy intensity

Energy intensity - the amount of energy consumed per unit of output – by UK companies and the public sector decreased by 2.9 per cent in 2009, compared with 2008. Energy consumption fell by 6.9 per cent and output fell by 4.9 per cent during this period. Overall, energy intensity fell by 35.1 per cent between 1990 and 2009, while Gross Domestic Product rose by 45.8 per cent in real terms during this period.

Energy consumption

The UK consumed 210.8 million tonnes of oil equivalent (mtoes) of energy in 2009 - the lowest since 1990 - 15.6 mtoes (6.9 per cent) lower than in 2008. The UK total energy consumption (including household) fell as:

• the total use of energy from fossil fuels decreased by 8.7 per cent to 194.1 mtoes

However, this was partly offset as:

• the use of energy from other sources – nuclear power, hydro electric power, and imports of electricity – increased by 20.2 per cent to 16.7 mtoes 
 
Fossil fuel

Energy consumption from fossil fuel by UK companies and the public sector decreased by 10.2 per cent to 139.1 mtoes in 2009, the lowest consumption since 1990. It was mainly due to a fall in energy consumption by electricity, gas and water industries; manufacturing industry; and transport and communication industries. Energy consumption from fossil fuels by the household sector decreased by 4.5 per cent to 55.0 mtoes - 28.3 per cent of total energy use from fossil fuel - in 2009.

Other sources

Energy consumption from non-carbon sources increased by 2.8 mtoes to 16.7 mtoes - 7.9 per cent of energy used by the whole economy - in 2009.  The use of energy from non-carbon sources was the highest since 2006; however, it was 8.3 mtoes lower than in 1998. 

Source: Office for National Statistics

Background notes

1. Gross Domestic Product: Chained volume measure – seasonally adjusted.
2. Energy from other sources is allocated to non-household sector.
3. The unit of measurement used in this analysis is tonne of oil equivalent (toe), which enables different fuels to be compared and aggregated. It should be regarded as a measure of energy content rather than a physical quantity. Standard conversion factors for each type of fuel are given in the Digest of UK Energy Statistics (DUKES).
4. For more information, e-mail environment.accounts@ons.gov.uk

Woodland area increases

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Summary: Forestry & Wood Products - Woodland area increases

In 2010, the total area of the UK covered by woodland was 3.1 million hectares; roughly the area covered by 4.1 million football pitches (or 1.5 times the area of Wales) - the highest since records began - and represents 12.7 per cent of the UK land area.  This is more than two-and-a-half times the area covered in 1924 when these statistics were first collected.  Much of this increase has been driven by commercial conifer plantations created between the 1950s and 1980s. 

Apparent consumption

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The UK apparent consumption – production and imports minus exports - of wood products increased in 2010 after decreasing for two consecutive years. In 2010, the apparent consumption increased, compared with 2009, as: 

• a pparent consumption of sawnwood increased by 8.6 per cent to 8,591 thousand cubic metres
• apparent consumption of wood based panel increased by 9.5 per cent to 5,561 thousand cubic metres

 However, this was partly offset as:

• apparent consumption of paper fell by 4.9 per cent  to 9,905 thousand tonnes

  Sawnwood

 Apparent consumption of sawnwood increased by 682.6 thousand cubic meters to 8,591 thousand cubic meters in 2010. This was mainly due to an increase in both imports and UK production of sawnwood. Imports increased by 8.5 per cent to 5,684 thousand cubic meters and UK production increased by 7.2 per cent to 3,078 thousand cubic metres.

Wood based panels Apparent consumption of wood based panels increased by 481.6 thousand cubic metres – the first increase since 2006 - to 5,561 thousand cubic metres in 2010. This was mainly due to an increase in both UK production and imports. UK production increased by 11.2 per cent to 3,370 thousand cubic metres and imports increased by 9.2 per cent to 2,731 thousand cubic metres.
 
Paper  Apparent consumption of paper decreased by 510.6 thousand tonnes to 9,905 thousand tonnes in 2010, the lowest level on record. This was mainly due to an increase in exports, together with a fall in imports. Exports rose by 36.2 per cent to 1,220 thousand tonnes, while imports fell by 2.7 per cent to 6,825 thousand tonnes.

Sources: Forestry Commission / Office for National Statistics

Background notes

1. Data for 2010 are provisional.
2. Apparent consumption is the amount of timber, measured as wood raw material equivalent underbark, used as wood and wood products by people and industries in the UK. It is calculated as total UK production plus imports, minus exports.  Apparent consumption also differs from actual consumption by the extent of changes in the level of stocks. It is not practical to collect information on actual consumption. 
3. Sawnwood is timber that has been cut into planks from logs and includes both softwood and hardwood.
4. Wood based panels include particle board, fibreboard, plywood and veneer sheets and can be made from softwood or hardwood.
5. For more information, e-mail environment.accounts@ons.gov.uk

SOURCE: http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/environmental/environmental-accounts/2011/waste-arising.html