Europe's Annual Plastic Waste: A Troubling Overview

Plastic waste is a pressing global issue, with almost 10 billion tonnes of plastic produced since the 1950s. While Europe is above the world average for the proportion of recycled plastic, the amount of virgin plastic being produced is increasing, and the EU is facing challenges in reaching its plastic waste reduction targets. Each person in the EU generated 36.1kg of plastic packaging waste on average in 2021, with the total amount of plastic waste produced in the EU that year reaching 16.13 million tonnes. While some countries in the EU, such as Germany and the UK, are celebrated as world leaders in recycling, they are also some of the biggest producers of plastic packaging waste.

EU citizens produce 42.6kg of plastic waste per year on average

EU citizens produce 42.6 kg of plastic waste per year on average. This figure only represents the amount of plastic waste that is collected separately, and it is important to note that the figures can vary significantly across different countries within the EU. For example, Belgian citizens produce more than double this amount, and Italians are not far behind.

The amount of plastic waste generated per person in the EU has been increasing over time. Between 2010 and 2021, the volume of plastic packaging waste generated per inhabitant increased by about 29% (+8.1 kg per person). This means that in 2021, each person living in the EU generated 36.1 kg of plastic packaging waste on average. The total plastic waste produced in the EU in 2021 was 16.13 million tonnes, of which about 6.56 million tonnes were recycled.

The EU is taking measures to reduce the amount of plastic waste produced and to increase recycling rates. For example, in 2015, the European Parliament backed the restriction of lightweight plastic bags in the EU. In 2019, the EU adopted new rules to target the issue of plastic marine litter, including a target of 25% recycled content in plastic bottles by 2025 and 30% by 2030. However, the EU is still far from reaching its recycling targets, and the amount of virgin plastic being produced continues to increase.

The low share of plastic recycling in the EU has significant environmental and economic impacts. In 2019, about 22 million tonnes of plastic ended up in soils, rivers, and oceans, and plastic leakage is projected to double by 2060. Plastic production, use, and disposal contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, which are expected to account for 15% of allowed emissions by 2050.

6.56 million tonnes of plastic waste were recycled in 2021

In 2021, the total plastic waste produced in the EU was 16.13 million tonnes. Of this, 6.56 million tonnes of plastic waste were recycled. This amounts to each person living in the EU generating an average of 36.1 kg of plastic packaging waste. The volume of plastic packaging waste generated per inhabitant increased by about 29% between 2010 and 2021. While the EU is taking measures to reduce plastic waste, the most common way to dispose of it in Europe is energy recovery, which involves turning plastic waste into usable heat, electricity, or fuel through incineration.

The EU is working to find more circular and environmentally friendly ways of managing its plastic waste. The low rate of plastic recycling in the EU results in significant losses for the economy and the environment. In 2019, about 22 million tonnes of plastic ended up in soils, rivers, and oceans, and plastic leakage is projected to double by 2060. The EU has set targets to increase the recycled content in plastic bottles to 25% by 2025 and 30% by 2030.

While the amount of recycled plastic in the EU is increasing, the production of virgin plastic is increasing at a faster rate. The EU's recycling targets are far from being met, and the region faces a challenge in reducing plastic waste generation while promoting recycling. Europe is above the world average in terms of the proportion of recycled plastic, but it still only amounts to around 10%.

Plastic waste is a global issue, with almost 10 billion tonnes of plastic produced worldwide since the 1950s, two-thirds of which were generated in the two decades after 2000. The top 20 countries producing plastic waste contribute to around 70% of the global total, with India, Nigeria, and Indonesia being the top three nations where plastic waste enters the environment.

The EU's plastic waste is mainly exported to Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium

The EU's plastic waste problem is a pressing issue. On average, an EU citizen produces 42.6kg of sorted plastic waste annually, with Belgians producing more than double that amount. In 2021, each person living in the EU generated 36.1 kilos of plastic packaging waste on average, with the total plastic waste produced in the EU that year reaching 16.13 million tonnes. Only about 6.56 million tonnes of this waste was recycled, with the rest likely incinerated or sent to landfills.

The EU has been working to reduce its plastic waste and increase recycling rates. In 2015, the European Parliament backed the restriction of lightweight plastic bags, and in 2024, stricter requirements were approved for waste shipments outside the EU, prohibiting plastic waste exports to non-OECD countries. Despite these efforts, the EU continues to struggle with plastic waste management.

Previously, a significant portion of the EU's plastic waste was exported to China. However, China's import ban on plastic waste in 2018 significantly reduced this trade route. As a result, the EU has had to find alternative destinations for its waste, leading to an increase in intra-EU waste flows, with Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium becoming major recipients. These countries have large ports and are well-positioned to handle the influx of waste.

The Netherlands, in particular, has come under scrutiny for its role in the global export of plastic waste. Despite its small size, the Netherlands was the largest exporter of plastic waste to non-OECD countries in 2021, sending significant amounts to Indonesia, Vietnam, and other Southeast Asian countries. This trade has raised concerns as these recipient countries often lack the proper infrastructure to process the waste effectively, leading to environmental and health issues.

While the EU works towards finding more sustainable solutions for its plastic waste, the current situation highlights the need for improved waste management strategies and reduced plastic production to minimize the environmental and health impacts of plastic pollution.

The EU is taking measures to reduce plastic waste

The EU has also adopted the Single-Use Plastics Directive, which includes a ban on specific types of single-use plastic packaging, such as plastic bags for unprocessed fresh produce or packaging for food and beverages consumed in cafes and restaurants. The directive sets targets for recycled content in plastic bottles and requires EU countries to achieve specific reductions in packaging waste.

In addition, the EU has approved stricter requirements for waste shipments outside the EU, prohibiting plastic waste exports to non-OECD countries. The European Parliament has also backed restrictions on lightweight plastic bags and called for action against microplastics. The EU is investing €100 million in developing smarter and more recyclable plastic materials, improving recycling processes, and removing hazardous substances from recycled plastics.

While the amount of recycled plastic in the EU is increasing, it still falls short of the EU's recycling targets. The complexity of the recycling process for plastics and the low demand for recycled plastics pose challenges. However, the EU is committed to finding circular and climate-friendly ways to manage its plastic waste and protect the environment.

The EU has a plastic conversion export surplus of 7.3 billion euros

The European Union is facing a mounting plastic waste problem. On average, an EU citizen produces 42.6 kg of sorted plastic waste annually, with Belgians producing more than double that amount. However, this figure only represents the amount of plastic waste collected separately, and it is important to note that household waste, which includes a significant amount of plastic packaging, is produced on a much larger scale. In 2020, it was estimated that there were 203 million tonnes of household waste in the EU.

The total plastic waste produced in the EU in 2021 was 16.13 million tonnes, with 6.56 million tonnes of plastic waste recycled. This means that only about 32.5% of plastic is recycled in Europe, and the low recycling rate in the EU results in significant losses for both the economy and the environment. About 22 million tonnes of plastic ended up in soils, rivers, and oceans in 2019, and plastic leakage is projected to double by 2060.

To address this issue, the EU has implemented various measures. In 2015, the European Parliament backed the restriction of lightweight plastic bags, and in 2019, the EU adopted new rules targeting plastic marine litter, with specific provisions for reducing plastic packaging waste. The EU is also transitioning towards a circular economy, where resources are used more sustainably and waste generation is minimised through long-lasting design, maintenance, repair, reuse, remanufacturing, refurbishing, and recycling.

The EU's efforts in tackling plastic waste have had some impact. The European plastics industry, represented by organisations like the European Plastics Converters (EuPC), contributes significantly to welfare in Europe by enabling innovation, facilitating resource efficiency, and creating jobs. The plastics industry employs more than 1.6 million people in around 50,000 small and medium-sized companies, generating a turnover of 260 billion € annually.

The value of plastics conversion in the EU further highlights the economic significance of this sector. In 2022, the EU had a plastic conversion export surplus of 7.3 billion euros, demonstrating the importance of plastic conversion in the region's trade. This surplus indicates that the EU's exports of converted plastic products exceed its imports, generating a positive trade balance in this specific sector.

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