UK stands to gain 5400 jobs and substantial investment by halting plastic waste exports

Fresh research indicates that ending plastic waste exports from the UK by 2030 could result in the creation of 5,400 new jobs, spur over £800 million in private investment, and generate nearly £900 million in annual economic value. Up to 15 new recycling plants could be constructed by the end of the decade, supporting significant growth in the domestic recycling sector. The policy shift would also provide upwards of £100 million in tax revenues for the Treasury every year.

The UK currently exports approximately 600,000 tonnes of plastic waste annually, with a notable increase in shipments to Indonesia in 2024. Many of these recipient nations lack the infrastructure to recycle such volumes, exacerbating environmental problems abroad. Exporting plastic waste removes a vital feedstock from the British recycling industry and allows the UK to avoid responsibility for its environmental impact.

Industry experts argue that Britain is utilising only half its recycling potential. The current regulatory framework incentivises the export of unprocessed plastic by making it cheaper than domestic recycling. This system undermines local recycling operations and has recently caused 21 UK recycling factories to close, due in part to competition from low-cost imports and low-priced virgin plastic.

Advocates urge the closure of policy loopholes and recommend raising the plastic packaging tax from 30 per cent recycled content to 50 per cent. Phasing out unprocessed plastic waste exports is expected to encourage domestic processing and build on successful examples such as the recycling of 10 billion HDPE milk bottles by leading UK firms.

Analysts maintain that the UK could achieve this expansion without public funding, provided that government policy prioritises onshore processing. This approach would reinforce the nation’s environmental stewardship while maximising economic returns and stimulating job creation within the green sector.