New Study: Europe Exports 46% of its Plastic Waste

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster):  The latest study carried out by researchers from NUI Galway and the University of Limerick (UL) said that huge volume of plastic recycling from European countries are potentially dumped in the world’s oceans.

According to the study published in the scientific journal Environment International, nearly 46% of Europe’s plastic waste is exported to countries outside the region, mainly to destinations in south-east Asia, where they are handled using poor waste management techniques. This is despite the European countries owning world’s most advanced waste management facilities.

ALSO READ: 

Dow Announces Commitment to Climate Change and Plastic Waste

Hawaii Island Student Innovators Tackle Plastic Pollution

The study, based on 2017 estimates, indicates that between 32,000 and 180,000 tonnes of exported polyethylene ended up in oceans. This translates to up to 7% of the total exports. Also, the UK, Slovenia and Italy accounted for the largest share of plastic waste exported to outside Europe. Surprisingly, nearly 31% of the exported plastic waste was not recycled at all, the study said.

George Bishop, lead author of the study noted that the results indicate the important pathway of plastic debris entering the oceans, which in turn is likely to have significant environmental and social impacts on marine life and coastal communities.