How Much Plastic Actually Gets Recycled?

Humans produce more than 141 million tons of plastic packaging every single year (Wrap, 2023). 

We are all increasingly aware of plastic's negative impact on the environment and human health. 

Efforts by consumers, brands, and governments to curb and reduce plastic pollution are growing — but they don’t always go far enough. 

Existing recycling practices are falling short and we need to take this more seriously in order to move toward a circular economy.  Here’s what you need to know.

Are you a brand that wants to support the environment and reduce plastic waste? CleanHub can help. Connect with our team to learn more about how our plastic collections make a difference. 

What’s on this page?

01 | How much plastic is recycled worldwide? 
02 | Are we recycling more over time? 
03 | What happens to plastic that’s not recycled? 
04 | Which countries recycle the most? 
05 | Which countries recycle the least? 
06 | Common recycling barriers
07 | Why is it so hard to recycle plastic? 
08 | Does recycling actually help the environment? 
09 | Summary

How much plastic is recycled worldwide? 

According to the OECD, scientists believe just 9% of the world’s plastic is recycled. 

The remaining 91% of plastic waste is discarded, ending in incineration, landfill, or polluting the environment.

National Geographic also highlighted that 12 billion metric tons of plastic waste will accumulate in landfills by 2050 if we continue this trajectory. One ecologist compared this to the weight of 36,000 Empire State Buildings. 

Why are recycling levels so low?

There are a number of reasons why recycling levels are so low — and in some cases, you can’t point the finger at one cause. 

For example, some plastics cannot be recycled because of their composition, while local infrastructure also prevents some materials from being recycled properly. Education challenges, funding, and a lack of standardization also make things difficult. 

Despite new regulations and advances in technology, recycling is often not economically viable compared to producing new plastic. Labor-intensive sorting, material collection, processing, and transportation add to the costs. Scalable recycling options remain limited; in many cases, throwing plastic away is still easier for brands and more cost-effective than managing its recycling.

But what's the cost of this throwaway culture? Our planet. 

Our oceans are choking with plastic, harmful chemicals are entering our drinking water, and the environmental and health costs are mounting for everyone.

Are we recycling more over time? 

Unfortunately, no, we're not recycling more over time.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the plastic recycling rate in the United States was 8.7% in 2018. The agency didn’t publish any data for subsequent years, but an NGO report claimed that in 2021, this had dropped to around 5%. 

We were living through a global pandemic during this time, which could partly explain why recycling rates dropped. Studies have also shown that plastic pollution increased during COVID-19, which supports this theory — but shouldn’t be an excuse. 

Most reports reveal that recycling rates in some parts of the world have largely plateaued in recent years, despite plastic production continuing to increase.

Not only is this negatively impacting the environment, but it’s also putting an unnecessary strain on raw materials. 

More than 98% of single-use plastic is still made from fossil fuels, and manufacturing adds to global emissions. Plastic manufacturing contributes to 3.4% of global emissions (1.8 billion tons of greenhouse gases), which is more than what the aviation and shipping industries emit. 

Keeping track of global recycling efforts is challenging because monitoring and records vary. Some countries consider waste ‘recycled’ once they export it to a different country — without necessarily ensuring it is repurposed. Find out more about this in our comprehensive guide to plastic waste exports.

What happens to plastic that’s not recycled? 

Many types of plastic exist on the market — and they all require different recycling and disposal methods. 

For example, while polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is easily recyclable, low-density polyethylene (LDPE), which is used for plastic bags and saran wrap, is rarely recycled because of its flimsy makeup. 

But even if the material is easy to recycle, we know most of it won’t be. So where does it end up? 

The OECD revealed that around 49% of plastic waste ends up in landfills, while 22% is mismanaged or littered in nature, and 19% is incinerated.

Not all waste that ends up in landfills stays there, either. It may get washed away into our water systems or break down into microplastics that can contaminate the soil or air. 

Plastic in the environment eventually flows into the ocean, where wildlife can ingest it. Due to ocean currents, the majority flows into the North Pacific or Indian Ocean, home to whales, manta rays, turtles, and millions of other ocean creatures. 

Because plastic products have an enduring lifespan, they can float in our waters for hundreds of years. Some items in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, for example, are estimated to be over 50 years old. 

Which countries recycle the most? 

The latest findings place South Korea among the top plastic recyclers, with an average of 34% of plastic waste currently recycled.

Reports also reveal that China has the world’s most extensive recycling capacity, with over 31% of plastic waste recycled in 2021. 

According to the European Parliament website, the EU's biggest leaders in plastic recycling are the Republic of Ireland (20.70 kg of plastic waste per capita each year) and Germany (19.98 kg per capita annually). 

In comparison, the UK recycles just 17% of its annual plastic waste. 

However, it’s important to highlight how difficult it is to compare global recycling levels. 

Recycling rates are measured in a variety of ways across the world, so identifying which regions recycle the most plastic isn’t straightforward. 

Some reports measure plastic recycling rates per capita (based on the size of the population), some reference it by weight, while others only record particular types of plastic. Some countries also collect data on the amount of plastic collected for recycling rather than the amount recycled, making findings inaccurate. 

What’s more, other data points are unreliable because of illegal and unofficial plastic dumping, meaning we’ll never truly know the scope of plastic waste entering the environment. In short, we desperately need to add more transparency to this data if we want to improve global recycling rates.

Common recycling barriers

We wish it were as easy as increasing the recycling volume, but global recycling efforts haven’t progressed much due to several factors, including cost, education, infrastructure, and market demand. 

Let’s put these factors under the microscope: 

1. Cost 

In most cases, brands believe throwing plastic packaging away is cheaper than recycling it. The low cost of raw materials and affordable price of plastic make it much easier for people to just dispose of it and never have to think about it again. 

While statistics on costs aren’t entirely clear, estimates suggest disposing of waste in a landfill in the US can cost around $60 per ton, while sorting and recycling one ton of curbside recycling can cost up to $120. 

But why exactly is it so expensive? Rather than just needing a piece of land and some machinery, recycling requires robust sorting systems that separate materials before recycling. Maintaining and running such systems require extra costs. 

Other processes are also required, like cleaning the plastics and melting them down at high temperatures. Again, this consumes energy and can be costly. It’s also estimated that recycling contamination (where the wrong plastic or additional materials enter recycling equipment) costs the US an extra $300 million annually. 

2. Education

Consumers play a crucial role in enabling plastic recycling around the world. However, education about plastic waste isn’t always available, hindering a country’s recycling efforts. 

In one survey that quizzed people from around the world, just 51% said they’d received education about recycling in school. 

What’s more, even when you’re aware of the impact of recycling, it’s sometimes difficult to understand which items can be recycled and which can’t. 

Our Plastics Perspectives Report found that roughly a quarter of the people we surveyed were unsure what can and can't be recycled in their state.

3. Infrastructure

Over 2 billion people worldwide lack access to essential waste management, let alone recycling facilities. Without government support, these families have little choice but to burn or dump their trash. 

Even if recycling infrastructure does exist, not all plastics are accepted in many facilities. This means sorting is crucial, and there are significant risks of contamination that can spoil an entire batch of recycling. 

On a positive note, according to the 2024 State of Recycling report, 87% of general recycling materials sent to US sorting centers are returned to the market as new materials. 

4. Market demand 

Conscious consumers are on the rise, and people are using the power of their purses to help shape brand behaviors and environmental commitments. 

But, as long as some shoppers continue to buy fizzy pop in virgin plastic bottles, supply and demand will continue. 

It’s not necessarily the customer’s fault, as many brands still supply their products in cheap plastic (because of cost, durability, and ease of use). 

What’s more, we know a lot of households dutifully separate their household recycling in hopes of doing their bit. 

Unfortunately, existing processes are falling short. This points to the need for a multi-pronged approach where consumers, retailers, and policymakers take responsibility and embrace systemic change to support creating a circular economy. 

Why is it so hard to recycle plastic? 

There are many challenges to successful nationwide recycling. 

From cost-effectiveness and chemical composition to education and awareness, successful recycling is complex and hinges on a robust approach. 

Some countries simply don’t have the necessary funding to create recycling infrastructure, while other regions have complex political systems and policies that slow progress. 

Even if a country invests in impactful recycling systems, many items simply cannot be recycled. Take, for example, a takeaway coffee cup. Even though it's made from cardboard, it contains a plastic inner sheeting that is difficult to separate, so it's not always recyclable. 

Some also suggest that the petrochemical industry is making things even harder. 

According to a 2024 Centre of Climate Integrity report, big oil and plastic manufacturers have delayed impactful plastic reduction initiatives to gain an advantage. Distracting people with recycling initiatives has helped expand the virgin plastic market. 

The report claims: “Petrochemical companies…have engaged in fraudulent marketing and public education campaigns designed to mislead the public about the viability of plastic recycling as a solution to plastic waste.” 

“These efforts have effectively protected and expanded plastic markets while stalling legislative or regulatory action that would meaningfully address plastic waste and pollution,” the report states. 

As you can see, the situation is complex. But that doesn’t mean we should give up entirely.

Does recycling actually help the environment? 

At CleanHub, we see recycling as an important tool that can help us move to a circular economy, which will mean we don’t have to continue extracting new materials from the planet. For example, thanks to impactful recycling strategies, more than 75% of aluminum is still circulating today. 

There is a lot of work that needs to happen in the industry, but we need to utilize recycling as part of a wider plan to help the environment. 

However, some people are more skeptical of how environmentally friendly recycling actually is. 

A 2023 Earth Day report published an article titled “Plastic recycling is a lie,” which questioned whether recycling is really worth it. 

The report points out that many consumers are doing their bit, but it doesn’t mean their recycling will become something new — and the latest plastic recycling statistics back this up. 

While the challenges are real, recycling plays an important role. And it’s crucial to remember the progress we’ve made and the impact recycling can have. 

People often overlook the socio-economic benefits of recycling, particularly in developing countries.

Plastic recycling initiatives (like the ones we implement at CleanHub) unlock jobs, support local economies, and empower communities to reduce environmental harm. This level of support goes a long way, even enhancing gender equality and supporting future livelihoods. 

We all know that the best way to stop the plastic crisis is to turn off the tap and end producing virgin plastic once and for all. But, we need to have recycling initiatives in place to soften the transition. 

Looking toward a circular economy future, it’s hard to imagine one where recycling doesn’t play a key part. There’s still some way to go, but we can’t afford to lose hope and give up on recycling. 

Summary

Recycling ultimately stops the extraction and waste of raw materials, so we can help conserve our planet’s resources in the long run. 

Of course, the reality of recycling is also complex, but we shouldn’t lose sight of the positive elements this important practice creates. 

It’ll take a conscious effort from everyone to increase plastic recycling levels to where they should be. 

Looking ahead, we can only hope that more organizations will hear consumer demands and take plastic recycling responsibilities more seriously. 

Together, businesses, consumers, and policymakers can make a difference. This can save lives, support marine wildlife, and create a future in which we live in harmony with our surroundings. 

Want to support recycling initiatives around the world? Speak with our experts to learn more about how CleanHub is helping brands make a real difference.