In 2022, the most common type of plastic packaging waste thrown out by households in the United Kingdom were from fruit and vegetables. Of the 97,948 households surveyed, some 1.02 million pieces of fruit and vegetable plastic packaging, such as salad bags, trays, and pots, were counted. Snack bags, packets, and wrappers amounted to around 1.01 million item. It was estimated that almost 100 billion items of plastic packaging waste are thrown out each year by households in the United Kingdom.
Most common items of plastic packaging waste thrown out by households in the United Kingdom in 2022
(in 1,000s)
Type of plastic packaging
Items counted in thousands
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A total of 6.4 million pieces of plastic packaging waste were counted during a week in May 2022*
Supplementary notes
*During one week in May 2022, 97,948 households in the UK counted how many plastic packaging items they threw away. In total, 6.44 million pieces of plastic packaging waste were counted.
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Statista. (August 23, 2022). Most common items of plastic packaging waste thrown out by households in the United Kingdom in 2022 (in 1,000s) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved August 25, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1327848/household-plastic-packaging-waste-items-thrown-out-uk/
Statista. "Most common items of plastic packaging waste thrown out by households in the United Kingdom in 2022 (in 1,000s)." Chart. August 23, 2022. Statista. Accessed August 25, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1327848/household-plastic-packaging-waste-items-thrown-out-uk/
Statista. (2022). Most common items of plastic packaging waste thrown out by households in the United Kingdom in 2022 (in 1,000s). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: August 25, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1327848/household-plastic-packaging-waste-items-thrown-out-uk/
Statista. "Most Common Items of Plastic Packaging Waste Thrown out by Households in The United Kingdom in 2022 (in 1,000s)." Statista, Statista Inc., 23 Aug 2022, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1327848/household-plastic-packaging-waste-items-thrown-out-uk/
Statista, Most common items of plastic packaging waste thrown out by households in the United Kingdom in 2022 (in 1,000s) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1327848/household-plastic-packaging-waste-items-thrown-out-uk/ (last visited August 25, 2024)
Most common items of plastic packaging waste thrown out by households in the United Kingdom in 2022 (in 1,000s) [Graph], Statista, August 23, 2022. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1327848/household-plastic-packaging-waste-items-thrown-out-uk/