Monthly Data

Key Messages

December 2025

The Basel Plastic Waste Amendments were enacted on January 1, 2021.

The E.U., U.K., Japan, and Canada initially reduced plastic waste exports to Non-OECD countries in January 2021, but exports have significantly increased since then.

E.U. has increased plastic waste exports to Non-OECD countries to higher than 2020 levels, from an average of 39.6 million kg/month in 2021 to an average of 61 million kg/month in 2025.

Japan plastic waste exports to Non-OECD are increasing back up to 2020 levels:

Japan increased from 22 million kg/month in January 2021 to 37 million kg/month in December 2025 to Non-OECD Countries.

U.K. Exports to Türkiye increased from 0.5 million kg/month in June 2021 to 17 million kg/month in December 2025.

U.K. Exports could be routed through the Netherlands to Non-OECD countries. U.K. Exports to the Netherlands were 8 million kg/month in December 2025.