HOUSEHOLDS in the UK throw away a staggering 82-billion pieces of plastic packaging every year. So, what happens to all this plastic waste?

Fifty-nine per cent of it is burnt here in the UK, releasing toxic gases that pollute the air and produce more carbon dioxide per tonne than coal, worsening climate change.

Sixteen per cent is exported to other countries, often those with less developed recycling infrastructure.

Nine per cent ends up in landfill.

Only 16 per cent is recycled in the UK, as domestic recycling facilities cannot keep up with the sheer volume of plastic produced.

Eighty-two per cent of household plastic waste comes from food and drink packaging. An estimated 13-billion pieces of fruit and veg packaging are discarded annually. Soft, flexible plastics make up 63 per cent of this waste, which is almost impossible to recycle at scale in the UK; consequently most is incinerated rather than recycled.

It is clear this is not a problem caused by individuals, but by a systemic failure. While consumers are often urged to recycle more, the infrastructure simply cannot cope, and much of the plastic is designed in ways that make recycling impractical.

Instead of focusing solely on recycling, it is essential to address the root cause by cutting plastic production. The logic is straightforward: if less plastic is made, less plastic is burned and less ends up polluting our environment. However, oil and gas companies are investing heavily in new plastic production, which is forecast to triple by 2060, making the situation even more urgent.

To truly tackle plastic pollution, we need systemic change — policies and practices that reduce production, redesign packaging, and hold producers accountable, rather than shifting the burden onto individuals and communities at home and abroad. Only then can we hope to reverse the environmental damage and create a sustainable future.