Government will have to invest15 Nov 2022 10:23
What happens to plastic waste in the UK?
44.2 percent of UK plastic packaging waste was recycled in 2021. However, recycling rates also include energy recovery from incineration and plastic waste exports. It is believed that almost half of all UK plastic waste is incinerated for energy recovery, with 25 percent landfilled and just 12 percent recycled in UK reprocessing facilities. The remaining waste is shipped abroad. Turkey is now the main destination for UK plastic waste materials, importing 123,000 metric tons in 2021. The UK lacks the infrastructure to deal with the enormous amounts of plastic waste it produces each year, so has relied on exports for many years. The recent bans and restrictions on waste imports by countries such as China has placed increased pressure on how the UK manages its waste. The UK government has been urged to invest in recycling infrastructure and new recycling technologies.