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Charted: The key countries that trade in global plastic waste

Every year, nations worldwide produce around 350 million metric tons of plastic waste.

Every year, nations worldwide produce around 350 million metric tons of plastic waste. Image: REUTERS/Richard Chung

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Graphic showing where plastic waste is traded around the world
Exporting spare plastic waste helps manage a part of a country's plastic emissions more cheaply. Image: Our World In Data.

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Graphic showing plastic waste exports, 2007-2021
Research has found that higher plastic waste imports have positively impacted the economic growth of many low-income countries. Image: Our World In Data.
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Graphic showing the world's top plastic waste exporters in 2020.
Europe exports nearly 80% of the world’s traded plastic waste. Image: Visual Capitalist.
Graphic showing the world's top plastic waste importers in 2020.
Malaysia and Türkiye have become the world’s largest plastic waste importers. Image: Visual Capitalist.

Graphic showing share of global plastic waste imports, 2007-2021
In 2018, China's plastic waste imports dropped by over 95% within a year. Image: Our World In Data.
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