Plastic waste exports in the Netherlands 2021, by destination

In 2021, the leading destination for plastic waste exports from the Netherlands was neighboring Belgium, with shipments of almost 118 thousand metric tons. The Netherlands was the largest exporter of plastic waste to third-ranking Indonesia, with exports of roughly 70 thousand tons. Indonesia has become a popular destination for plastic waste exports in recent years. However, like many other developing countries, it lacks the capacity to properly process such large volumes of waste. In turn, this waste is often incinerated or ends up leaking into the environment.