Restrictions on plastic imports are forcing countries to improve their own capacities to handle the waste domestically, according to the European Environment Agency (EEA).
It says there is “huge potential” to increase re-use and recycling in Europe.
There is an increasing number of bans and stricter international rules on the export of some types of waste to other countries.
There are two EEA briefings which give an assessment of the role of plastic waste export in the circular economy.