Reducing loss of resources from waste management is key to strengthening the circular economy in Europe

There is a lack of knowledge on the environmental and climate impacts as well as the social impacts of exporting plastic waste to countries outside the EU. If plastic waste is mismanaged e.g. left uncollected, openly dumped, littered or managed through uncontrolled landfills  it will result in pollution and climate change. Mismanaged plastic waste has polluted land-based ecosystems, and 80 % of ocean plastic is estimated to come from land-based resources. Greenhouse gas emissions from plastic production and processing, and from plastic waste management i.e. from incineration and landfills are growing rapidly.

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