UK Plastic Recycling Market Conditions
Published 9th January 2025
Throughout 2023–24 there have been a number of high-profile closures of plastic recycling sites within the UK, two of which took place in mid-November 2024. In 2022, the UK’s plastics recycling capacity was 1.1Mt and in the last 18 months it is estimated that around 260 K tonnes per year of recycling capacity has been lost due to site closures. Extremely challenging market conditions along with delays to legislation have all contributed towards these closures. The plastic recycling industry urgently needs government support to prevent further closures.
The document provides an overview of the key challenges faced by UK plastic recyclers and the government actions that we recommend to help mitigate these.
Key challenges
- Delays in legislation
- Cheap imports of virgin and recycled material
- The export market
- PRN /PERN prices
- Plastic Packaging Tax
Action required
- Incentivising domestic recycling
- Support for UK plastic recyclers
- Effective delivery of the packaging reforms
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