Plastic recycling in the UK: how it works and what your plastic is worth
Plastic recycling turns used plastic into flakes or pellets that manufacturers make into new products. In the UK, 53.5% of plastic packaging waste was recycled in 2024, the lowest rate of the main packaging materials. This guide explains how the process works, which plastics are worth separating and what the rules are for businesses.
Plastic recycling: key facts
| UK plastic packaging recycled | 53.5% in 2024, according to Defra |
|---|---|
| Recycled abroad | 47% of the plastic packaging counted as recycled is exported, according to WRAP |
| Plastics most in demand | Natural HDPE, clear PET bottles and clear LDPE film |
| Rule for workplaces in England | Plastic must be kept out of general waste since 31 March 2025 |
| Plastic film | Must be collected for recycling in England from 31 March 2027 |
How is plastic recycled?
Most plastic in the UK is recycled mechanically, which means it is cleaned and melted but not broken down chemically. The process has six steps.
- Collection and sorting. Infrared scanners identify each type of plastic and air jets separate it. Workers remove anything the machines miss.
- Shredding. The sorted plastic is cut into small flakes.
- Washing. Labels, glue, food and dirt are washed off.
- Separating. Flakes are floated in water. Some plastics sink and others float, which removes the wrong types.
- Melting. Clean flakes are melted and pushed through a filter.
- Pelletising. The melted plastic is cut into pellets, which manufacturers buy in place of new plastic.
Which plastics can be recycled?
The number inside the triangle on a plastic item shows what it is made of. It does not mean the item will be recycled. This table shows what happens to each type in the UK.
| Code | Plastic | Common uses | Recycled in the UK? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PET | Drinks bottles, food trays | Widely |
| 2 | HDPE | Milk bottles, drums, crates | Widely |
| 3 | PVC | Pipes, window frames | By specialists |
| 4 | LDPE | Pallet wrap, bags, film | Widely from businesses |
| 5 | PP | Tubs, bottle tops, strapping | Widely |
| 6 | Polystyrene | Protective packaging, cups | Rarely |
| 7 | Other and mixed | Pouches, laminated film | Rarely |
What is recycled plastic made into?
Recycled pellets go into new drinks bottles, food trays, pipes, crates, pallets, wheelie bins, refuse sacks, garden furniture and the damp proof membrane used in building. Bottles and trays made from PET can go back into food packaging. Most other recycled plastic goes into products that last longer, such as pipes and crates.
What is waste plastic worth?
In July 2026 the average UK export value was £261 a tonne for HDPE, £177 for LDPE film and £223 for PET. A buyer will offer less than this, because the figure includes the cost of sorting, baling and shipping.
Four things decide what a buyer pays: the type of plastic, the colour, how clean it is and whether it is baled. Clear film and natural HDPE earn the most. Mixed, dirty or loose plastic often costs money to remove. See the current plastic recycling prices, or read our guide on how to sell plastic waste.
Plastic recycling rules for businesses
In England, the Simpler Recycling rules have applied to workplaces since 31 March 2025. Plastic must be collected with your dry recycling and kept apart from general waste. Workplaces with fewer than 10 full time staff have until 31 March 2027. Wales has required separate collections since 6 April 2024, and Scotland since 2014.
Every business must also use a registered waste carrier and keep a waste transfer note for each load for two years. If you make or import plastic packaging, the Plastic Packaging Tax applies to packaging with less than 30% recycled content. A deposit return scheme for plastic drinks bottles and cans is due to start in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland in October 2027.
Plastic recycling near me
Households should use their council collection, which takes bottles, pots, tubs and trays in most areas. Businesses need a licensed waste carrier, or a buyer if the plastic is sorted and baled.
Related guides
- Types of plastic: the seven resin codes, and what they mean
- Recycling symbols UK: which labels mean anything
- Can you recycle polystyrene?: yes, but not in your bin
- Can you recycle bubble wrap?: yes, with bags at the supermarket
- Baler machine: choosing one for the material you have
Frequently asked questions
Which plastics cannot be recycled?
Polystyrene, pouches, laminated film and black plastic that sorting machines cannot see are rarely recycled in the UK. PVC needs a specialist recycler. Plastic that is dirty or mixed with food is usually rejected.
Can pallet wrap and plastic film be recycled?
Yes. Clean, clear LDPE film is one of the most valuable waste plastics a business produces. Keep it dry, keep it apart from other waste and bale it if you can.
How many times can plastic be recycled?
Only a limited number of times. Each time plastic is melted its quality falls a little, so recyclers often blend it with new plastic. PET and HDPE keep their quality best.
Where does the UK send its plastic for recycling?
About half is recycled in the UK. WRAP reports that 47% of the plastic packaging counted as recycled is exported for reprocessing.
Is plastic recycling worth it for a business?
Usually, yes. Separating plastic cuts the amount of general waste you pay to have removed, and clean film or rigid plastic in quantity can be sold. In England it is also a legal duty for most workplaces.
How does plastic recycling work?
Plastic is collected, sorted by polymer type, washed, shredded into flakes and melted into pellets, which manufacturers buy to make new products. Bottles, pots, tubs and trays are sorted mechanically at a materials recycling facility. Film and mixed plastics are harder to sort, which is why far less of them is recycled.