Plastic waste exported by the United Kingdom 2005-2023, by select destination
China was the main export destination for the United Kingdom's plastic waste up until 2017, with shipments peaking in 2011 at nearly 332,000 metric tons. Exports to China have plummeted since 2018 following the country's ban on several types of foreign waste imports, including plastic.
As a result of the ban, the UK began sending waste to other countries such as the Netherlands. Turkey has also emerged as a leading export market for UK plastic – being the leading destination for UK plastic waste exports in 2023 – while shipments to developing countries such as Indonesia and Vietnam have all declined.
