Thu, 23 Oct 2025

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 Can the plastic recycling industry be saved?

Plastic recycling plants in Europe are being shut as they struggle to find a business model
Plastic recycling plants are shutting down across Europe and the UK, leading to a significant loss of capacity. Industry body Plastic Recyclers Europe estimates that nearly one million tonnes of plastic recycling capacity have been lost since 2023. The closures are due to high energy and labor costs, as well as the fact that sourcing virgin and recycled plastic from Asia is currently cheaper than buying European recycled plastic. This has led companies like Biffa, Viridor, and Veolia to shut down plants in the UK and Europe. Industry experts warn that without decisive political action, Europe will rely on unsustainable imports and growing volumes of waste, undermining its economic resilience and climate leadership. The problem is exacerbated by loopholes in current legislation that incentivize plastic waste collectors to export rather than process domestically. Manufacturers are also inclined to use cheaper virgin plastic from abroad, despite the UK's plastics packaging tax. Industry leaders, including Ahmed Detta from Enviroo and Steve Morgan from RECOUP, are calling for a single plastic recycling certification scheme to reduce exports of plastic waste and make companies more inclined to use recycled packaging. The UK government has convened a Circular Economy Taskforce and is implementing packaging reforms, but experts warn that significant reform is needed to save the industry.
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