New data from PlasticsEurope has found growth in plastics waste collection.
The annual overview, published by industry organisations PlasticsEurope and the European Association of Plastics Recycling & Recovery (EPRO), found that 7.7 million tonnes of plastics waste was collected in 2014, up from 6.6 million tonnes in 2012.
The study also found that 69.2% of waste plastic was recycled or used to generate energy, according to data compiled by the consulting company Consultic.
The amount of post-consumer waste plastics generated in the European Union, Norway and Switzerland stood at 25.8 million tonnes, up from 25.2 million tonnes in 2013. The UK recycled 29% of waste plastic.
The highest recycling rate was seen in Norway, where it reached 40%. Quotas exceeding 30% were achieved in Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, Spain, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Germany, Ireland, Portugal and Estonia. Malta ranked last with approximately 14%.
Plastics Recyclers Europe called upon the new Circular Economy Package to structure the steps of collection, sorting and data reporting. It also questioned why sorting is not mentioned in any of the European Union legislation.