- A Decade of Growth in Exports of Recyclable Materials from the EU
- Composition of Exports of Recyclable Materials in 2023
- Export of Recyclable Plastics: The Leading Countries in 2023
- Imports of Recyclable Plastic Materials: The Main Nations
- Final considerations on the 2023 Eurostat Report on the Import-Export of Waste
Eurostat Reveals 2023 Data on Import-Export of Waste and By-products: Germany Leads in Export of Recyclable Plastics
By Marco Arezio
Eurostat has recently published the 2023 data concerning the import-export of waste, scraps, and by-products between the European Union and non-EU countries, highlighting a significant increase in the export of potentially recyclable materials.
A Decade of Export Growth
According to the Eurostat report, the export of recyclable materials from the EU continued to grow in 2023, reaching nearly the same quantities as imports. Last year, exports reached 39.3 million tonnes, marking a 74% increase over the past ten years. In contrast, the import of these materials into the EU remained essentially stable at 39.8 million tonnes, showing a slight decline of 8.6% compared to 2004.
Composition of Exports
Metals represent the majority of exported materials, with 21 million tonnes (54% of the total). This is followed by paper and cardboard with 7 million tonnes (18%) and organic materials of animal or vegetable origin with 4.5 million tonnes (11%). Plastic materials are in fifth place with about 1.3 million tonnes, preceded by textiles.
Export of Recyclable Plastics: Leading Countries
Analyzing the export of recyclable plastics, Germany ranks first with 312,000 tonnes.
It is followed by the Netherlands with 282,000 tonnes, Belgium with 227,000 tonnes, and Spain with 181,500 tonnes. Italy ranks fifth with 83,000 tonnes exported.Import of Recyclable Plastics: Leading Nations
Regarding the import of recyclable plastic materials, Sweden is in the lead with 158,000 tonnes, followed by the Netherlands with 147,000 tonnes and Germany with 116,000 tonnes. Again, Italy ranks fifth with 50,500 tonnes imported.
Final Considerations
The Eurostat report highlights a growing trend in the export of recyclable materials from the EU to non-EU countries, suggesting a strong global demand for these materials. However, the stability of imports into the EU might indicate a sufficient internal capacity for managing and utilizing recyclable materials. These data underline the importance of further developing infrastructure and policies for recycling, both within and outside the EU, to support sustainable and circular resource management.
