Plastic waste in the UK - statistics & facts
Key insights
- Annual plastic waste generation per capita in the UK
- 98.66 kg

Detailed statistics
Per capita plastic waste generation worldwide 2016, by select country
- Plastic packaging waste generation in the United Kingdom
- 2.5 Mt

Detailed statistics
Generation of plastic packaging waste in the UK 2012-2021
- Recycling rate of UK plastic packaging waste
- 44.2%

Detailed statistics
Recycling rate of plastic packaging waste in the UK 2012-2021
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Current statistics on this topic
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Overview
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- Premium Statistic Per capita plastic waste generation worldwide 2016, by select country
- Premium Statistic Recycling of plastic packaging waste in the EU-27 2010-2019, by country
- Premium Statistic Breakdown of plastic waste treatment methods in the UK 2022
- Premium Statistic Local authority plastic packaging collection rates in the UK 2010-2020, by type
- Premium Statistic Plastic packaging waste recycling stream in the UK 2019
Overview
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Per capita plastic waste generation worldwide 2016, by select country
Per capita plastic waste generation worldwide 2016, by select country
Per capita plastic waste generation in select countries worldwide in 2016 (in kilograms a year)
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Recycling of plastic packaging waste in the EU-27 2010-2019, by country
Recycling of plastic packaging waste in the EU-27 2010-2019, by country
Recycling rate of plastic packaging waste in the European Union (EU-27) in 2010 and 2019, by country
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Breakdown of plastic waste treatment methods in the UK 2022
Breakdown of plastic waste treatment methods in the UK 2022
Distribution of plastic waste treatment methods in the United Kingdom as of 2022
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Local authority plastic packaging collection rates in the UK 2010-2020, by type
Local authority plastic packaging collection rates in the UK 2010-2020, by type
Share of local authorities collecting plastic packaging in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2010 to 2020, by type
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Plastic packaging waste recycling stream in the UK 2019
Plastic packaging waste recycling stream in the UK 2019
Plastic packaging waste stream in the United Kingdom in 2019 (in million metric tons)
Generation and consumption
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- Premium Statistic Generation of plastic packaging waste in the UK 2012-2021
- Premium Statistic Household plastic packaging consumption in the UK 2020, by type
- Premium Statistic Breakdown of plastic packaging waste thrown out in the UK 2022, by type
- Premium Statistic Plastic packaging waste items counted by UK households 2022, by type
- Premium Statistic Number of household plastic packaging waste items thrown away in the UK 2022
- Premium Statistic Single-use plastic carrier bags issued by major supermarkets in England 2017-2021
Generation and consumption
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Generation of plastic packaging waste in the UK 2012-2021
Generation of plastic packaging waste in the UK 2012-2021
Generation of plastic packaging waste in the United Kingdom from 2012 to 2021 (in 1,000 metric tons)
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Household plastic packaging consumption in the UK 2020, by type
Household plastic packaging consumption in the UK 2020, by type
Volume of household plastic packaging placed on the market in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2020, by type (in 1,000 metric tons)
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Breakdown of plastic packaging waste thrown out in the UK 2022, by type
Breakdown of plastic packaging waste thrown out in the UK 2022, by type
Distribution of plastic packaging waste types thrown out by households in the United Kingdom in 2022
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Plastic packaging waste items counted by UK households 2022, by type
Plastic packaging waste items counted by UK households 2022, by type
Most common items of plastic packaging waste thrown out by households in the United Kingdom in 2022
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Number of household plastic packaging waste items thrown away in the UK 2022
Number of household plastic packaging waste items thrown away in the UK 2022
Estimated number of plastic packaging items thrown away each year by households in the United Kingdom as of 2022
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Single-use plastic carrier bags issued by major supermarkets in England 2017-2021
Single-use plastic carrier bags issued by major supermarkets in England 2017-2021
Number of single-use plastic carrier bags issued by major supermarkets in England from FY 2016 to FY 2021(in millions)
Recycling
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- Premium Statistic Recycling rate of plastic packaging waste in the UK 2012-2021
- Premium Statistic Household plastics packaging collection rate in the United Kingdom 2020, by country
- Basic Statistic Packaging waste arisings and recovery in the United Kingdom (UK) 2021, by material
- Premium Statistic Volume of plastic packaging waste recycled in the UK 2012-2021
- Premium Statistic Household plastic packaging collected for recycling in the UK 2020, by type
- Premium Statistic Plastics packaging collected per household in the UK 2020, by type
- Basic Statistic Packaging recycling rate targets in England 2030, by type
Recycling
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Recycling rate of plastic packaging waste in the UK 2012-2021
Recycling rate of plastic packaging waste in the UK 2012-2021
Recycling rate of plastic packaging waste in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2012 to 2021
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Household plastics packaging collection rate in the United Kingdom 2020, by country
Household plastics packaging collection rate in the United Kingdom 2020, by country
Household plastics packaging collection rates in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2020, by country*
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Basic Statistic
Packaging waste arisings and recovery in the United Kingdom (UK) 2021, by material
Packaging waste arisings and recovery in the United Kingdom (UK) 2021, by material
Packaging waste arisings and total recovered/recycled in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2021, by material (in 1,000 metric tons)
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Volume of plastic packaging waste recycled in the UK 2012-2021
Volume of plastic packaging waste recycled in the UK 2012-2021
Total recovered/recycled plastic packaging waste in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2012 to 2021 (in 1,000 metric tons)
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Household plastic packaging collected for recycling in the UK 2020, by type
Household plastic packaging collected for recycling in the UK 2020, by type
Quantities of plastic packaging collected for recycling from households in the United Kingdom in 2020, by type (in 1,000 metric tons)
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Plastics packaging collected per household in the UK 2020, by type
Plastics packaging collected per household in the UK 2020, by type
Average plastics packaging collected per household in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2020, by type (in kilograms)
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Basic Statistic
Packaging recycling rate targets in England 2030, by type
Packaging recycling rate targets in England 2030, by type
Recycling rate targets for packaging in England by 2025 and 2030, by type
Trade
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- Premium Statistic Plastic packaging waste recycling and exports in the United Kingdom 2010-2021
- Premium Statistic Volume of plastic waste exported annually from the UK 2000-2021
- Premium Statistic Annual plastic waste exports from the UK 2020-2021, by type
- Premium Statistic Breakdown of UK plastic waste export destinations 2021, by country
- Premium Statistic Volume of plastic waste exported by the UK 2000-2021, by destination
Trade
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Plastic packaging waste recycling and exports in the United Kingdom 2010-2021
Plastic packaging waste recycling and exports in the United Kingdom 2010-2021
Domestic plastic packaging recycling and exports in the United Kingdom from 2010 to 2021 (in 1,000 metric tons)
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Volume of plastic waste exported annually from the UK 2000-2021
Volume of plastic waste exported annually from the UK 2000-2021
Annual exports of plastic waste from the United Kingdom from 2000 to 2021 (in million metric tons)
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Annual plastic waste exports from the UK 2020-2021, by type
Annual plastic waste exports from the UK 2020-2021, by type
Annual exports of plastic waste from the United Kingdom in 2020 and 2021, by type (in metric tons)
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Breakdown of UK plastic waste export destinations 2021, by country
Breakdown of UK plastic waste export destinations 2021, by country
Distribution of leading plastic waste export destinations from the United Kingdom in 2021, by country
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Volume of plastic waste exported by the UK 2000-2021, by destination
Volume of plastic waste exported by the UK 2000-2021, by destination
Plastic waste exports from the United Kingdom from 2000 to 2021, by select destination (in metric tons)
Plastic pollution
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- Premium Statistic Number of years for selected plastic products to decompose
- Premium Statistic Plastic waste pollution concerns in the UK 2021
- Premium Statistic Litter items collected from beaches in the United Kingdom (UK) 2021, by type
- Premium Statistic Plastic/polystyrene pieces and packets collected from beaches in the UK 2015-2021
Plastic pollution
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Number of years for selected plastic products to decompose
Number of years for selected plastic products to decompose
Lifecycle of selected plastic products (in years to decomposition)
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Plastic waste pollution concerns in the UK 2021
Plastic waste pollution concerns in the UK 2021
Opinions and concerns about plastic waste pollution in the United Kingdom in 2021
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Litter items collected from beaches in the United Kingdom (UK) 2021, by type
Litter items collected from beaches in the United Kingdom (UK) 2021, by type
Most common items of litter collected per 100 meters of beach in the United Kingdom* (UK) in 2021, by type
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Plastic/polystyrene pieces and packets collected from beaches in the UK 2015-2021
Plastic/polystyrene pieces and packets collected from beaches in the UK 2015-2021
Average number of plastic or polystyrene pieces and packets collected per 100 meters of beach in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2015 to 2021
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