Can the plastic recycling industry be saved?

The plastic recycling industry is facing challenges with numerous plant closures in the UK and Europe due to high costs and competition from cheaper materials from Asia. Industry experts warn of the potential demise of plastic recycling as exporters struggle to stay competitive. Urgent intervention is needed to reform regulations, promote domestic processing, and incentivize the use of recycled materials to prevent Europe from falling behind in plastic recycling. Initiatives like the Deposit Return Scheme and packaging reforms aim to improve recycling quality and reduce dependency on plastic waste exports.