Decline in EU exports of recyclables over last decade

In 2022, the EU exported 6.4 million tonnes of recyclable products (paper, plastic and glass) to extra-EU countries, which is a 8.4% increase compared to 2021. On the other hand, importsamounted to 4.0 million tonnes, a 4.2% increase compared to 2021.

Compared with 2010, the total exports of recyclable products to extra-EU countries decreased by more than a third (-35.2%, from 9.8 to 6.4 million tonnes). The total imports increased by 23.9%, from 3.2 to 4.0 million tonnes.  

Recyclable paper was the most exported and imported product

In terms of exports, in 2022, paper was the most exported recyclable product outside of the EU, representing more than three quarters of exports (77.1% and 4.9 million tonnes), followed by plastic (17.5% and 1.1 million tonnes) and glass (5.4% and 0.3 million tonnes).

In the same year, 2.4 million tonnes of paper were imported, accounting for over half (59.3%) of all recyclable products imported from outside of the EU. The second-largest category was plastic (20.6% and 0.8 million tonnes), followed by glass (20.1% and 0.8 million tonnes).

India, Türkiye and United Kingdom: main export destinations in 2022

India was the largest destination for exports of recyclable paper from the EU in 2022 (29% of total extra-EU paper exports), followed by Indonesia (19%) and Türkiye (12%).

Türkiye was the largest destination for exports of recyclable plastic (29% of total extra-EU plastic exports), followed by Indonesia (17%) and Malysia (15%).
In 2022, recyclable glass was predominantly exported to the United Kingdom (46% of total extra-EU glass export), with Switzerland (11%) and Brazil (9%) following behind.

United Kingdom: top supplier of recyclable products to the EU

Extra-EU imports of recyclable products came largely from the United Kingdom, which accounted for 47% of total paper imports, 45% of plastic and 47% of glass imports.

The second-largest supplier of recyclable paper was the United States (20% of extra-EU paper imports), followed by Switzerland (14%). Imports of recyclable plastic also came from the United States (8%), followed by Norway (7%). The second largest supplier of recyclable glass was Switzerland (14%), followed by Norway (9%).

Source: Eurostat