UK throws away 1.7 billion pieces of plastic every week, crisis ‘out of control’

It is estimated that Britons throw away 1.7 billion pieces of plastic every week, with campaigners calling it a crisis “out of control”.

The average household disposes of 60 pieces of plastic packaging every seven days, which is equivalent to 90 billion pieces of plastic packaging being disposed of nationwide every year.

More than 225,000 people took part in the Plastic Sweep and recorded their waste.

Packaging of snacks, fruits and vegetables is most important.

Greenpeace and Everyday Plastics, which carried out the research, said the UK was throwing away more rubbish plastic Per capita income is higher than every other country in the world except the United States.

Research shows that only 17% of plastic residue is recycled, while 58% is incinerated.

Greenpeace says burning plastic releases more carbon dioxide per ton than burning coal, exacerbating climate change, and that the continued use of incinerators is “incompatible” with government commitments net zero By 2050.

Frustrated by the lack of progress since the first count in 2022, Greenpeace UK and Daily Plastics call on Westminster and supermarkets to “take a leadership role” in global plastics treaty talks to be held in Canada later this month .

They urged policymakers to call for a legally binding global target to cut plastic production by at least 75% by 2040.

Campaigners are also urging the government to speed up the introduction of innovative reuse and refill systems, end approval of new incineration plants and impose a complete ban on all plastic waste exports by 2027.

Rudy Schulkind, a political campaigner at Greenpeace UK, said evidence from big plastic statistics showed the plastics crisis was “out of control” and “if the industry had its way, production would triple by 2050.”

He added: “The worst affected are marginalized communities who are more likely to live near incineration sites or be harmed by the waste we dump in countries in the Global South.”

Laura Burley, who leads the project, said: “If I started counting every piece of plastic packaging thrown away in the UK in one year, it would take me until 2077 to count every piece.”

She added that while the challenge of solving the problem may feel “overwhelming”, there are “solutions” as long as politicians and big business get involved.

One vote count participant said she was “shocked” after receiving the results.

Chloe Scrivener, from Dorset, said: “I want to be part of the real solution because while I believe we should all have a sense of responsibility for our planet and its future, I want It’s up to the government to make bigger changes and act faster, for future generations like my son, and for wildlife because plastic is everywhere and it’s so harmful.”

Sky News has contacted DEFRA for comment.