China was the main export destination for the United Kingdom's plastic waste up until 2017, with shipments peaking in 2011 at nearly 312,000 metric tons. Exports to China have plummeted since 2018 following the country's ban on several types of foreign waste imports, including plastic. As a result of the ban, the UK began sending waste to other countries such as Turkey. The Netherlands has also emerged as a leading export market for UK plastic waste – being now the largest destination for UK plastic waste exports – while shipments to developing countries such as Indonesia, Vietnam, and Malaysia have all reduced.
Plastic waste exports from the United Kingdom (UK) from 2000 to 2022, by select destination
(in metric tons)
Characteristic
China
Turkey
Poland
Malaysia
Vietnam
India
Indonesia
Netherlands
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Trade Map. (August 9, 2023). Plastic waste exports from the United Kingdom (UK) from 2000 to 2022, by select destination (in metric tons) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved September 01, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1269079/plastics-waste-export-destination-united-kingdom/
Trade Map. "Plastic waste exports from the United Kingdom (UK) from 2000 to 2022, by select destination (in metric tons)." Chart. August 9, 2023. Statista. Accessed September 01, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1269079/plastics-waste-export-destination-united-kingdom/
Trade Map. (2023). Plastic waste exports from the United Kingdom (UK) from 2000 to 2022, by select destination (in metric tons). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: September 01, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1269079/plastics-waste-export-destination-united-kingdom/
Trade Map. "Plastic Waste Exports from The United Kingdom (Uk) from 2000 to 2022, by Select Destination (in Metric Tons)." Statista, Statista Inc., 9 Aug 2023, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1269079/plastics-waste-export-destination-united-kingdom/
Trade Map, Plastic waste exports from the United Kingdom (UK) from 2000 to 2022, by select destination (in metric tons) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1269079/plastics-waste-export-destination-united-kingdom/ (last visited September 01, 2024)
Plastic waste exports from the United Kingdom (UK) from 2000 to 2022, by select destination (in metric tons) [Graph], Trade Map, August 9, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1269079/plastics-waste-export-destination-united-kingdom/