Key Messages: The EU and UK should undertake rapid enforcement of Y48 plastics exports and consider an immediate ban on plastic waste exports.
OECD countries promoting the “circular economy of plastics” myth continue to be the largest plastic waste exporters, proving it to be a false concept as they cannot manage their own plastic waste but must externalize costs to weaker economies.
EU hits record high plastic waste exports to Asia. Total EU exports to non-OECD countries rose to 82.1 million kg/month in November 2023 from 28 million kg/month in May 2022. This is the highest level of plastic waste exports to Asia since China implemented National Sword in 2018.
EU exports to non-OECD countries:
- Germany: 19.5 million kg/month (November 2023)
- Netherlands: 19.2 million kg/month (October 2023)
- Belgium: 8.2 million kg/month (October 2023)
- Spain: 13.8 million kg/month (September 2023)
- Italy: 4.8 million kg/month (September 2023)
EU floods Turkey and Egypt with plastic waste:
- EU exported 25.3 million kg/month in November 2023 to Turkey. This is equal to 159 trucks of plastic waste per day.
- EU exported 6.1 million kg/month in November 2023 to Egypt. This is a new destination for EU plastic waste. Egypt has negligible plastic recycling capacity. This waste is likely to be burned or dumped into the environment.
UK continues high plastic waste exports to EU that may then go to Asia:
- UK exported 14.6 million kg/month in November to Spain, Netherlands, and Belgium combined.
- UK exported 11.1 million kg/month in November 2023 to Turkey.
- UK exported 6.6 million kg/month in November 2023 to non-OECD countries.
Japan continues to flood other parts of Asia with plastic waste. Japan exported 55.5 million kg/month in November 2023 to non-OECD countries. This is equal to 348 shipping containers of plastic waste per day.
Australia increased plastic waste exports to Asia. Australia exported 6.6 million kg/month in November 2023 to non-OECD countries.
US continues high plastic waste exports to Mexico in a shift away from Asia:
- US exported 5.7 million kg/month in November 2023 to Mexico.
- US exported 12.6 million kg/month in November 2023 to non-OECD countries.
Check here for these annual summaries and the latest monthly data. Full-year data for 2023 is expected to be published by government agencies by March 2024.