According to the latest data analysis conducted by Watershed Investigations and the Basel Action Network for The Guardian, Germany and the United Kingdom topped the list of global plastic waste exporters in 2025. The massive volume of waste, frequently flowing into developing nations and Turkey, is fueling a severe ecological crisis. Although both the European Union and the British government are preparing to tighten export rules, the ongoing practice of “waste colonialism” and a lack of domestic recycling capacity continue to sustain global pollution.
Quantitative Data: European Dominance in Waste Export
The analysis of 2025 trade data revealed that Germany became the world’s largest exporter of plastic waste, sending more than 810,000 tonnes of plastic garbage abroad in a single year.
Following closely in second place is the United Kingdom. The British exported over 675,000 tonnes of waste, representing its highest level in eight years. To put this volume into perspective, it is enough to fill approximately 127,000 standard shipping containers.
In contrast, larger countries by area and population, such as the United States and China, export less plastic waste. This is partly because a larger proportion is handled domestically (through landfills, incineration, or recycling), and they are not subject to the same recycling target pressures as Europe, where exported volumes can count toward official recycling rates. The US exported 385,000 tonnes in 2025, making it the world’s fifth-largest exporter, while China ranked only 18th in 2024.
Where Does the Garbage Go? Overwhelming Turkey and Asia
Much of the waste originating from Western Europe is sent to Turkey, followed by Malaysia, with Indonesia also serving as a regular destination. On-the-ground investigations have repeatedly linked the plastic recycling industry in these receiving countries to environmental damage, illegal dumping and burning, as well as labor abuses.
Emphasizing the severity of the situation, Sedat Gündoğdu, a Turkish marine biologist investigating plastic pollution, stated: “The Turkish Mediterranean coast is the most polluted coast in the whole Mediterranean because of the plastic waste from the recycling factories. There’s huge amounts of microplastics – sometimes people can’t even get into the sea because of all the waste.”
The waste management infrastructure in Turkey is already overwhelmed. According to Gündoğdu, the country domestically generates 3.3 million tonnes of plastic waste, which is more than double its national capacity to recycle. Pua Lay Peng, a Malaysian activist campaigning against the influx of foreign plastic waste, described the practice bluntly: “This is waste colonialism.”
Tightening EU and UK Regulations: A Race Against Time
The European Union has agreed to ban exports of plastic waste to countries outside the mostly rich OECD nations by November 2026. Currently, however, half of the exports are still being sent to those very destinations. A spokesperson for the EU Commission confirmed that the new waste shipment regulation affects about half a million tonnes of plastic waste. Furthermore, in December 2025, the Commission adopted a new package of measures to boost the circular economy and strengthen European recycling.
The UK has made a similar commitment regarding exports to non-OECD countries, written into the Environment Act 2021, though it remains subject to consultation. According to the data, about a fifth of Britain’s plastic waste exports in 2025 still went to non-OECD countries. Shipments to Malaysia—now the UK’s third-largest destination—have risen by almost 60% since 2024.
A spokesperson for the UK’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) indicated that the government is tightening export rules. Exporters must now register and provide evidence of how waste is handled, and a digital tracking system will come into force this year.
The Root of the Problem and Future Risks
Sara Matthieu, an MEP for the Greens/European Free Alliance, described the imminent export ban as a “watershed moment,” but warned that the EU’s domestic capacity to recycle had actually reduced by 1 million tonnes in the last few years. According to Matthieu, the root of the problem is that freshly produced plastics are still much cheaper than reused and recycled materials, representing a market failure where the EU Commission has been “asleep at the wheel.”
With the ban approaching, experts fear that all exports could be redirected to developing OECD countries (such as Turkey) or to parts of Eastern Europe that lack the capacity to manage higher volumes. Amy Youngman, a legal policy specialist for the Environmental Investigation Agency, highlighted further loopholes: “Our other concern is that there will be an increase of exports from the EU to the UK, who can then re-export to third countries, including non-OECD countries like Malaysia.” Although enforcement authorities are trying to prevent this, experts argue that more significant, holistic policy changes are needed to address the global crisis.
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Original Article: The Guardian – Germany largest exporter of plastic waste 2025
