Germany sends less plastic waste abroad. Export volumes have halved in the past decade, according to the Federal Statistical Office. The main reason is import restrictions in Asian countries.
Germany is exporting less and less plastic waste abroad. According to the Wiesbaden Federal Statistical Office, some 745,100 tons of plastic waste were exported last year. According to the information, this amount has roughly halved over the past ten years (minus 51%).
“One reason for this is the import restrictions on plastic waste in some Asian countries,” the statistician explains. In 2012, Germany exported 1.5 million tons. Compared to the previous year, 2021, it is down 9%.
The Federal Statistical Office shared this information on the occasion of World Oceans Day on 8 June. According to research, plastic waste, including from Western industrialized countries, often ends up in the world’s oceans. An estimated 270,000 tons of trash are floating in the ocean.
Germany leads the way in waste exports
According to statistics, most of the plastic waste was exported to the Netherlands last year. Nearly 153,300 tonnes, or 21%, of all exported plastic waste was destined for a neighboring country, which has an important maritime transshipment point with the port of Rotterdam. Turkey (approx. 92,400 tons) and Poland (approx. 81,800 tons) ranked second and third among the most important customer countries.
When compared within the EU, Germany is the largest exporter of plastic waste. However: the distance to other countries has narrowed significantly compared to previous years According to Eurostat, the European statistics office, the Netherlands was the second largest exporter last year with 701,500 tons, followed by Belgium with almost 476,600 tons.
united nations hope plastic pollution Include
Negotiations at the United Nations on an international agreement on plastics took place recently in Paris. By 2024, a convention will be developed, setting out binding rules and measures affecting the entire life cycle of plastics. The United Nations wants to curb environmental pollution caused by plastic waste on a large scale by 2040.
In Germany, a round table has been tackling the issue of marine litter for seven years. Representatives of fishing, shipping, industry and retail, scientists, environmental groups and politicians will develop recommendations for action on plastic pollution in the North and Baltic seas.