Chloe Zhang
Plastic waste is one of the most pressing environmental issues of our time. While recycling is one of the most impactful ways to support a circular economy, the world has a plastic pollution crisis. Since 1950, more than half of the 8 billion tons of plastic produced globally has ended up in landfills, with only about 9% recycled. Several factors, including cost, education, infrastructure, and market demand, hinder global recycling efforts. However, some countries have achieved high plastic recycling rates and set an example for the rest of the world. South Korea, Germany, and Austria are renowned for their efficient waste management systems and strong waste collection infrastructure, resulting in some of the highest recycling rates worldwide.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Countries with high recycling rates | Austria, South Korea, Brazil, Switzerland, Wales, UK, San Francisco |
| Countries with low recycling rates | US, China, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Laos, Ethiopia, Senegal |
| Global plastic production in 2019 | 460 million tonnes |
| Plastic waste generated per EU inhabitant in 2021 | 36.1 kilos |
| Plastic waste generated in the EU in 2021 | 16.13 million tonnes |
| Plastic waste recycled in the EU in 2021 | 6.56 million tonnes |
| Percentage of plastic waste recycled globally | 9% |
| Plastic waste that goes to landfill | 50% |
| Plastic waste that is mismanaged | 20% |
| Plastic waste that is incinerated | Varies by country; high in Europe |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic recycling rates
The low recycling rate for plastic is a significant issue, as plastic waste that is not properly managed becomes an environmental pollutant. It is estimated that between 75 and 199 million tons of plastic are currently in our oceans, with one to two million tonnes of plastic entering our oceans every year. Most of this plastic comes from middle-income countries, particularly in Asia.
Some countries have much higher plastic recycling rates than others. For example, Austria has one of the highest recycling rates in the world, with 96% of the population separating their waste into recyclable categories. South Korea has also significantly improved its recycling rate, increasing from 2% in 1995 to 95% today. Other countries with high recycling rates include Wales (65%), Brazil (over 70% in Curitiba), and Switzerland (50% across Zürich).
The European Union (EU) has implemented several measures to increase plastic recycling rates, including a target of 25% recycled content in plastic bottles by 2025 and 30% by 2030. The EU has also banned the export of plastic waste to non-OECD countries and restricted the use of lightweight plastic bags. However, the EU still generates a significant amount of plastic waste, with each person in the EU producing an average of 36.1 kilos of plastic packaging waste in 2021.
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Plastic waste management
Austria has one of the highest recycling rates globally, with 96% of its population separating waste into recyclable categories. They have also banned plastic bags since 2020. Vancouver, Canada, has a similar approach, with mandatory food scrap composting, reducing carbon dioxide emissions from landfills. Wales, UK, recycles around 65% of its total waste through a combination of council and resident sorting, aiming to increase this to 70% by 2025.
South Korea has made impressive strides in food waste recycling, increasing its rate from 2% in 1995 to 95% today. They achieved this through a food waste fee, where households pay a small monthly fee for biodegradable food scraps. Switzerland has made recycling mandatory, with fines for non-compliance, and offers door-to-door collection services or access to over 12,000 recycling points across Zurich.
Curitiba, Brazil, has a successful community-based recycling scheme, with over 70% of waste recycled. This scheme provides jobs and benefits to the community, especially those from lower-class backgrounds, who receive tokens for exchanging waste that can be used for transport and food.
To improve plastic waste management, best practices include regulatory and policy interventions, such as restricting plastic bags and promoting recycled content in products. Additionally, behavioural and educational campaigns can raise public awareness about proper plastic waste disposal. Partnerships between NGOs, local governments, and businesses can help maximize public awareness and fund new infrastructure and technology. Innovation and locally appropriate technologies, such as machine learning for sorting waste and blockchain tools for fostering recycling, can also enhance plastic waste management.
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Plastic waste export
The plastic waste trade has mirrored the growth in global plastic production, with high-income, high-consuming countries exporting plastic waste to avoid the direct social and environmental impacts of their plastic problem. Europe is the biggest exporter of plastic waste, with Germany being the world's largest exporter in 2023, shipping over 693,000 metric tons. The UK, which exported 615,000 tons in 2023, is the second-largest exporter. Other major exporters include Japan, the Netherlands, and the United States.
While many countries export some of their waste, they still handle most of it domestically. For example, the UK exported about 17% of its plastic waste in 2010, while the US exported about 5%, and France exported 11%. Most of the plastic waste exports from high-income countries go to low-to-middle-income countries, particularly in Asia, which tend to have poorer waste management infrastructure. Since China's ban on plastic waste imports in 2018, Turkey has become the leading destination for plastic waste exports from the European Union, receiving about 315,000 tons. Other countries that have increased their plastic waste imports include Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Philippines.
The global trade in plastic waste has severe negative consequences, with millions of tons of waste dumped in countries ill-equipped to manage it, leading to environmental destruction, human rights violations, and the fueling of organized crime. Criminals exploit regulatory gaps and legal loopholes in the global plastic waste trade, including through scams involving supermarket take-back schemes and the UK's Extended Producer Responsibility scheme. Additionally, much of the exported plastic waste is burned, contributing to air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
To address these issues, there have been calls for tighter controls on the global trade in plastic waste, including revisions to the European Union's Waste Shipment Regulation to ban plastic waste exports to non-EU countries and introduce stringent measures for intra-EU trade. The European Parliament has also approved stricter requirements for waste shipments outside the EU, prohibiting exports to countries that are not members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The Basel Convention also aims to address plastic waste management, but there are concerns that it falls short of fully protecting workers, communities, and ecosystems in developing countries.
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Plastic waste import
In May 2019, 187 countries agreed to restrict international trade in plastic waste to address its improper disposal and reduce plastic leakage into the environment. The Basel Convention, which came into effect on January 1, 2021, now controls or regulates transboundary shipments of plastic scrap and waste. This requires the prior written consent of the importing country and any transit countries. The United States is not a party to the Basel Convention, but many of its trading partners are, which will significantly impact US exports and imports of plastic recyclables.
The global trade in plastic waste has decreased by two-thirds since 2010. China's ban on importing most plastic waste in 2017 significantly contributed to this decline, as China previously imported more than half of the world's traded plastic waste. This ban was implemented due to environmental and health concerns from contaminated waste streams. As a result, the global volume of plastic trade decreased, and there were changes in the treatment structure of countries, with positive environmental impacts.
Europe is the largest exporter and importer of plastic waste, with most plastic traded within a given region. Germany is the biggest exporter and importer in Europe, trading with the Netherlands, Poland, Austria, and Switzerland. While EU countries have been recycling more plastic waste, they also generate more of it. In 2021, the total plastic waste produced in the EU was 16.13 million tonnes, and 6.56 million tonnes were recycled. Half of the plastic collected for recycling is exported to countries outside the EU due to a lack of capacity, technology, or financial resources to treat the waste locally. The main destinations for EU plastic waste exports are Turkey, India, and Egypt, although China previously received a significant share.
To achieve global environmental sustainability, countries should transition from exporting to domestic waste management and from landfills to recycling. This could result in eco-cost savings of about 1.54–3.20 billion euros. The recycling rate of plastic varies globally and is still about 9% on average. Most plastic ends up in landfills, incineration plants, or is mismanaged. Richer countries tend to produce the most plastic waste per person, but mismanagement of waste, which is higher in low-to-middle-income countries, is the critical factor in plastic pollution. Improving waste management systems in all countries, especially low-to-middle-income countries, is crucial to tackling plastic pollution.
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Plastic waste and poverty
Firstly, let's understand the recycling landscape globally. Several countries are making significant progress in tackling plastic pollution. For instance, Austria boasts one of the highest recycling rates globally, with 96% of its population separating waste into recyclable categories. Similarly, South Korea has dramatically increased its food recycling rate from 2% in 1995 to 95% today, achieved through a mandatory food waste fee. Other notable examples include Vancouver, where food scraps are banned from standard waste bins, and Zurich, where recycling is mandatory, with approximately 12,000 recycling points across the city.
However, the reality is that only 9% of plastic waste is recycled globally, with half of all plastic designed for single-use. Rich countries produce the most plastic waste per person, but the critical issue is the mismanagement of waste, which is more prevalent in low- to middle-income countries due to inadequate waste management infrastructure. As a result, plastic waste ends up in oceans, rivers, and lakes, causing significant environmental and human health issues.
The impact of plastic pollution on people in poverty is profound. With limited access to solid waste management, communities are forced to dump or burn their rubbish in open dumpsites, on roadsides, or in waterways. The burning of plastic waste releases toxic fumes, causing respiratory problems, especially in children. Plastic pollution also clogs rivers and waterways, leading to flooding and an increased risk of harmful disease outbreaks, such as malaria. This, in turn, impacts the ability to work and earn a living, pushing communities deeper into poverty.
Additionally, plastic pollution threatens local economies, particularly those reliant on tourism. The unsightly presence of plastic waste deters visitors, hindering businesses and curtailing growth. This makes it even more challenging for families to lift themselves out of poverty.
To break this cycle, it is essential to provide low-income communities with access to waste management infrastructure and education about plastic consumption. Organizations like Plastic Bank are making a difference by turning plastic waste into currency, empowering vulnerable coastal communities to exchange plastic for income, health services, and other benefits.
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Frequently asked questions
Germany, South Korea, Austria, and the UK are among the countries with the highest plastic recycling rates.
The US, China, Brazil, and Japan are among the countries with the lowest plastic recycling rates.
According to the OECD, only about 9% of plastic waste is recycled worldwide.
Countries recycle plastic through various waste management programs and collection systems. Some countries, like Germany, have comprehensive waste management systems, while others, like South Korea, have strong waste collection systems.
Recycling plastic helps to reduce plastic pollution and carbon dioxide emissions. It also reduces the need for raw materials and the amount of waste sent to landfills, which in turn reduces the amount of greenhouse gas produced.
