Petition · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Ban exports of recyclable waste to non-OECD countries
Closed
68 signatures
What the petition asks
The Government should ban the export of all recyclable waste (including plastics, paper metals, and mixed recyclables) to non-OECD countries, where weak regulation and limited waste-management infrastructure often result in dumping, open burning, or environmental harm.
Exporting our recycling frequently shifts pollution to communities with fewer safeguards. Investigations show our waste ending up in rivers, open dumps, and informal burning sites in developing countries. This damages ecosystems, harms public health, and undermines trust in our recycling. We should process, recycle, or reuse our waste domestically or through environmentally robust OECD partners with strong enforcement guards.
Timeline
| 23 Jan 2026 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 23 Jul 2026 | Closed to new signatures |
Key facts
Signatures
68
Status
Closed
Department
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Opened
23 Jan 2026
Closed
23 Jul 2026
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 16 Aug 2026.