Recycling rate of plastic packaging waste in the UK 2012-2021

The recycling rate of plastic packaging in the United Kingdom stood at 44.2 percent in 2021, a decrease in comparison to the previous year, when it reached a high of 47.2 percent. Although the amount of plastic packaging recycled in the UK has nearly doubled since 2012, progress has slowed down in recent years.

How is plastic recycled in the UK?

One of the most important steps in the recycling process of plastic waste is the collection of recyclables. In 2021, 100 percent of local authorities in the UK offered curbside collection of plastic bottles, while 88 percent also offered collection of plastic pots, tubs, and trays. After collection, the plastic waste is transported to a recycling center where it can be sorted and cleaned. The plastic is then shredded, melted and pelletized so that it can be ultimately used as raw material for manufacturing new plastic products. Plastic waste that is not collected for recycling is either sent to landfill sites or incinerated for energy recovery.

Collected does not mean recycled

Many nations – including the United Kingdom – export part of their waste to other countries because they either lack the recycling infrastructure to manage the volume of waste generated or because it is cheaper to ship their waste to countries with lower labor and processing costs. Historically, the UK exported most of its plastic waste to China. However, due to the import ban implemented by the Asian country on certain types of waste in 2018 and recent changes to the Basel Convention, European countries are now the leading destinations of UK plastic waste exports.