Which European countries are the largest exporters of plastic waste?

Published on 15/05/2026 - 10:23 GMT+2

Germany was the world's largest exporter of integrative discarded successful 2025, sending 810,000 tonnes overseas, according to a caller study.

It was followed by the UK, which exported 675,000 tonnes abroad, said the report, which was carried retired by journalists astatine Watershed Investigations and the biology NGO Basel Action Network (BAN) for British quality outlet The Guardian.

It's the country's highest level successful 8 years and produced capable to capable astir 127,000 shipping containers.

Meanwhile, astatine an EU level, the bloc exported 1.5 cardinal kg/year successful 2025, with 50% going to non-OECD Countries.

Much of the discarded was sent to Turkey, the existent largest recipient of EU integrative waste, followed by Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam.

Plastic discarded commercialized exports to Turkey and non-OECD countries person dramatically accrued successful caller years, starting successful precocious 2023.

This was astir apt owed to precocious vigor costs shutting down integrative recycling operations successful the EU, according to the BAN.

EU integrative discarded exports to non-OECD countries roseate to 45 cardinal kg/month successful December 2025 from an mean of 39.6 cardinal kg/month successful 2021.

This is adjacent to 280 shipping containers of integrative discarded exported to non-OECD countries per day, the BAN said.

Which countries privation to person overseas integrative waste?

In November 2026, nether the Waste Shipment Regulation, EU countries volition beryllium banned from exporting integrative discarded to non-OECD countries, unless the countries privation to import it and tin amusement that they tin grip it sustainably.

The incoming prohibition adds to different efforts by the EU to boost its circular system and fortify Europe's integrative recycling measures.

Countries had until February 2025 to petition to beryllium included connected the EU's database for importing non-hazardous waste, according to the European Commission, which says that 32 territories person done so, including 2 that missed the deadline.

Only astir 9% of the plastics ever produced person been recycled, and 12% person been incinerated, according to the European Environment Agency.

If processed improperly, this discarded tin origin superior harm to some the situation and quality health.