Sofia Martinez
The world produces around 350-430 million metric tons of plastic waste each year, with only a fraction of this being recycled. While most plastic waste is managed and recycled within countries, some high-income nations offload their plastic waste onto developing nations, which often lack the infrastructure to handle it effectively. Despite this, several countries stand out for their impressive recycling rates and initiatives. So, which country recycles the most plastic?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Country with the highest plastic waste production | China (59.08 million tons in 2010) |
| Country with the second-highest plastic waste production | United States (37.83 million tons in 2010) |
| Country with the highest per capita plastic waste production | United States (34.02 million tons in 2016) |
| Country with one of the highest recycling rates | Austria (around 54%) |
| Country with the highest recycling rate | Germany (around 56% to 70%) |
| Country with a high food waste recycling rate | South Korea (95%) |
| Country with a high recycling rate | Wales (65%) |
| City with a high recycling rate | San Francisco (3 categories of waste: compost, recycle, and landfill) |
| City with a high number of recycling points | Zurich, Switzerland (12,000) |
| Country with a ban on plastic bags | Vancouver |
| Country with a ban on single-use plastic straws | China (by the end of 2020) |
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What You'll Learn
Germany is the world's largest exporter of plastic waste
While most plastic waste is managed and recycled within countries, some is exported to other nations. This exported waste helps manage a country's plastic emissions more cheaply and reduces pressure on local recycling facilities and landfills. However, it also allows wealthier nations to offload their environmental responsibilities onto less developed countries, which often lack the infrastructure to handle the waste effectively.
Germany's plastic waste exports have been at the center of controversy, with containers of German plastic waste being refused entry into Turkey and re-routed to Vietnam. This incident highlighted the issue of "waste colonialism," where wealthier countries export their plastic waste to poorer countries with less stringent environmental regulations.
While Germany is the largest exporter of plastic waste, it is also one of the world's top recyclers. However, there is still room for improvement in Germany's recycling practices, as only a fraction of the garbage collected is intended for incineration and recovery.
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Europe exports nearly 80% of the world's traded plastic waste
The world produces around 350-430 million metric tons of plastic waste every year. Most of this waste is either incinerated or sent to landfills, contributing to air, land, and ocean pollution. Only a small fraction of plastic waste is recycled, and just 2% is traded internationally.
Europe, the largest importing region, exports nearly 80% of the world's traded plastic waste. In 2020, Germany was the world's largest exporter of plastic scraps and waste, with 854 million kilograms shipped. The majority of Germany's waste is sent to the Netherlands, Poland, Austria, Switzerland, Turkey, and Malaysia. Notably, Germany has since reduced its plastic waste exports by 6%.
While exporting spare waste helps countries manage their plastic emissions more cheaply and reduces pressure on local recycling facilities and landfills, it also raises concerns about environmental responsibility. Wealthier nations are criticized for offloading their waste onto less developed countries, which often lack the infrastructure and resources to handle the waste effectively. For instance, the CleanHub report highlights that five million tons of plastic waste are exported annually, with 71% coming from just 10 high-income countries.
To address these concerns, the European Parliament approved stricter requirements in February 2024, prohibiting plastic waste exports to non-OECD countries. Additionally, the EU is exploring circular and climate-friendly ways to manage its plastic waste, recognizing the economic and environmental losses associated with low recycling rates.
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South Korea has a 60% recycling rate
South Korea has been hailed as the world's best recycler, with a reported 60% recycling rate for plastic waste. This impressive achievement is the result of innovative solutions and collaboration between the government and its citizens to tackle waste management effectively.
South Korea's journey towards becoming a leader in recycling has not been without its challenges. After the Korean War, the country experienced rapid economic growth in the 1960s, leading to a significant increase in consumption and waste. From 1970 to 1990, municipal solid waste in Korea surged sevenfold, from 12,000 tons to 84,000 tons per day.
To address this growing waste problem, South Korea implemented the VBWF system, which involves purchasing specialized trash bags. This initiative incentivized citizens to reduce their waste output, resulting in a remarkable 16% decrease in daily trash over 20 years. However, the introduction of these bags also led to illegal dumping in public bins to avoid the extra cost, causing an overflow of trash on the streets. As a consequence, the government removed thousands of public trash bins, making it challenging to find trash cans on Korean streets today.
In addition to its successful waste reduction strategies, South Korea has also made significant progress in food waste recycling. By banning food waste from landfills and introducing compulsory food waste recycling using biodegradable bags, South Korea has increased its food waste recycling rate from 2% in 1995 to an impressive 95% today. The government subsidizes these bags, with an average four-person family paying $6 per month, encouraging home composting and covering 60% of the scheme's operational costs.
South Korea's success in recycling is a testament to the power of innovative solutions and collaborative efforts between governments and citizens. While the country continues to face challenges, its waste management strategies have set a global example, demonstrating the importance of financial investments, circular systems, and awareness in tackling the pressing issue of waste.
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Norway's recycling rate in 2020 was about 48%
While it is unclear which country recycles the most plastic, Norway's recycling rate in 2020 was about 48%. This rate refers specifically to the recycling of electrical and electronic equipment waste (WEEE), which includes items such as computers, televisions, fridges, and mobile phones.
Norway's high rate of recycling in this category is notable, especially when compared to its performance in other areas of waste management. For instance, Norway's recycling rate for municipal waste was only about 37% in 2020, the lowest it had been since 2010. In 2022, this rate increased to 41.2%, still lower than the 43% recorded in 2015.
Norway's recycling rate for packaging waste has also fluctuated over the years, reaching a high of 63.1% in 2022, up from nearly 57% in 2010.
The country's efforts in managing and recycling waste are important in addressing the global issue of plastic pollution. Every year, the world produces around 350-430 million metric tons of plastic waste, with a significant amount ending up in landfills and the oceans, contributing to climate change, biodiversity loss, and ocean degradation.
While Norway's recycling rates are commendable, it is worth noting that the country also contributes to the export of plastic waste. Europe, of which Norway is a part, exports nearly 80% of the world's traded plastic waste, often to other European nations or developing countries that may lack the infrastructure to handle it effectively. This practice raises concerns about the environmental impact and the need for better global recycling practices.
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Wealthier nations offload plastic waste to less developed countries
While most plastic waste is managed and recycled within countries, wealthier nations are offloading their plastic waste to less developed countries. The top 10 countries export more than 4.4 million tonnes of plastic waste per year, with seven of them in Europe. These exporters are high-income, developed nations, and their exports make up 71% of all plastic waste exports.
The countries upholding the burden of these waste imports include Vietnam, Malaysia, and Turkey, which lack the infrastructure and resources to handle the waste effectively. As a result, the waste is often improperly disposed of, leading to ocean pollution and toxic emissions. For instance, the United States exports its plastic waste to Kenya, contributing to the plastic crisis in the country.
The fashion industry, in particular, contributes significantly to this issue, as plastic waste from the industry arrives in countries like Kenya and Ghana in the form of second-hand clothes. These clothes are often unsellable and end up in landfills, further straining the waste management infrastructure in these developing countries.
This practice of offloading waste to developing nations is driven by the higher costs and challenges associated with building domestic recycling infrastructure in wealthier nations. By exporting their waste, these countries can manage their plastic emissions more cheaply and reduce pressure on local recycling facilities. However, this approach prioritizes short-term cost savings over long-term solutions and environmental responsibility.
To address this issue, wealthier nations need to support developing nations in processing waste effectively. This can be achieved through financial and strategic assistance to help build robust waste management infrastructure in the importing countries.
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Frequently asked questions
Germany has the highest plastic recycling rate in the world, with 99.7% of plastic recycled in 2020.
Austria has the second-highest plastic recycling rate in the world, with approximately 54% of its waste being recycled.
South Korea has the highest plastic recycling rate in Asia, with a 60% recycling rate in 2020.
Norway has an advanced recycling system that emphasises sorting waste at the source, with about 60% of household waste recycled and the remaining 40% used for energy recovery.
