title: The UK waste input-output table: Linking waste generation to the UK economy.
abstract: In order to achieve a circular economy, there must be a greater understanding of the links between economic activity and waste generation. This study introduces the first version of the UK waste input-output table that could be used to quantify both direct and indirect waste arisings across the supply chain. The proposed waste input-output table features 21 industrial sectors and 34 waste types and is for the 2010 time-period. Using the waste input-output table, the study results quantitatively confirm that sectors with a long supply chain (i.e. manufacturing and services sectors) have higher indirect waste generation rates compared with industrial primary sectors (e.g. mining and quarrying) and sectors with a shorter supply chain (e.g. construction). Results also reveal that the construction, mining and quarrying sectors have the highest waste generation rates, 742 and 694 tonne per £1m of final demand, respectively. Owing to the aggregated format of the first version of the waste input-output, the model does not address the relationship between waste generation and recycling activities. Therefore, an updated version of the waste input-output table is expected be developed considering this issue. Consequently, the expanded model would lead to a better understanding of waste and resource flows in the supply chain.
authors.affiliation: University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK rsalem@zerowastemena.org.
authors.forename: Ramy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Salemdeeb
authors.affiliation: University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: Abir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al-Tabbaa
authors.affiliation: University of Aberdeen, Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health, Aberdeen, UK.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Reynolds
mesh_terms: D007221:Industry / Q000191:economics*; D008906:Mining; D018803:Models, Economic; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D059027:Recycling; D062611:Solid Waste / Q000032:analysis / Q000191:economics*; D006113:United Kingdom; D018505:Waste Management / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D062611:Solid Waste
keywords: Environmental accounting; circular economy; input–output analysis (IOA); waste attribution; waste footprint