Monthly Data

Key Messages

Plastic waste trade exports to Turkey and non-OECD countries have dramatically increased starting in late 2023, most likely due to high energy costs shutting down plastic recycling operations in EU.

EU plastic waste exports to non-OECD countries rose to 56.2 million kg/month in December 2024 from an average of 39.6 million kg/month in 2021. That is equal to 352 shipping containers of plastic waste exported to non-OECD countries PER DAY.

EU increasing plastic waste exports to Turkey:

  • Increase in EU exports to Turkey to 44 million kg/month in November 2024 from 10.7 million in January 2023. That is equal to 257 truckloads of plastic waste PER DAY.

Germany:

  • Increased plastic waste exports to non-OECD countries from an average of 10.9 million kg/month in 2021 to 15.4 million kg/month in December 2024.

  • Netherlands:

  • Increased plastic waste exports to non-OECD countries from an average of 8.3 million kg/month in 2020 to 11 million kg/month in December 2024.

Spain:

  • Increased plastic waste exports to non-OECD countries from an average of 2.9 million kg/month in 2020 to 14.6 million kg/month in December 2024.

Key Metrics