The UK could fully stop exporting its plastic waste by 2030, helping to generate thousands of jobs and taking responsibility for its environmental footprint, according to new research. The analysis suggests the shift would support 5,400 new jobs and allow the country to manage its waste domestically rather than sending it overseas.
The proposed strategy includes the construction of up to 15 new recycling facilities by the end of the decade. These sites could unlock more than £800 million in private investment, producing nearly £900 million in annual economic value along with at least £100 million in tax revenue each year.
The findings come as UK plastic exports rose by 5% in 2024 to almost 600,000 tonnes, highlighting the country’s continued dependence on international waste disposal.
Exports Shift the Burden Elsewhere
The report highlights the harm caused when plastic waste is shipped abroad. Many recipient countries lack the infrastructure to recycle the material safely, meaning waste often contributes to pollution, public health risks, and unmanaged dumping. Meanwhile, domestic recyclers lose access to valuable feedstock needed to scale the UK’s own circular economy.
A significant share of exports this year has gone to Indonesia, where plastic pollution has already pushed ecosystems into crisis. More than 24,000 tonnes of UK waste have been sent there in the first part of the year alone.
Advocates argue that the UK is effectively outsourcing the consequences of its consumption while missing major economic opportunities at home.
The Economics of a Missed Opportunity
According to the analysis, current market structures make it cheaper for companies to export plastic waste than recycle it domestically. This imbalance has contributed to the closure of 21 recycling and processing facilities across the UK over the past two years driven by the scale of exports, the low cost of virgin plastic and the influx of cheaper products from abroad.
Neville Hill, a partner at Hybrid Economics, which produced the research, said the UK is only utilising “half of its potential” to recycle plastic waste. He argued that ending exports of unprocessed plastic packaging waste by 2030 would help the country “take control of its environmental responsibilities and seize a clear economic opportunity,” provided government policy creates the right conditions.
James McLeary, managing director of Biffa Polymers, noted that the company has recycled 10 billion HDPE milk bottles in the past 20 years a milestone he called a circular economy success story. “When the right conditions are in place, UK recycling grows, investment follows and the environmental and economic benefits build year after year,” he said.
Policy Shifts Could Unlock Major Gains
To correct market incentives, the report recommends increasing the plastic packaging tax currently applied to producers whose products contain less than 30% recycled plastic. Raising the tax rate to 50%, the authors argue, would boost demand for recycled materials and curb reliance on waste exports.
Campaigners are also calling for a complete phase-out of unprocessed plastic packaging waste being sent overseas, pushing for a system in which the UK manages and recycles its own materials within its borders.
A Chance to Build a More Responsible System
The research suggests that with the right framework, the UK has both the capacity and the economic rationale to rebuild its recycling infrastructure and end plastic waste exports altogether. Doing so would not only reduce environmental harm abroad but also strengthen domestic industry, increase resilience and help the country meet its broader sustainability goals. Treating plastic waste as a national responsibility could unlock benefits that extend far beyond recycling bins.
