Massive amounts of packaging waste being sent abroad for recycling might actually be ending up in landfill sites, according to a new report by the National Audit Office (NAO).

Britain lacks the necessary infrastructure to recycle all its own packaging waste, so vast amounts of it are sent overseas to be recycled and transformed into new products. However, concerns have now been raised that much of it is actually being dumped in landfill sites, contributing to global pollution levels.

11 million tons of packaging were used by businesses and households in the UK in 2017, with 64% of all packaging waste being reported as recycled. However, the NAO’s report has now thrown that figure into doubt, as companies are in the dark about whether or not their packaging waste has actually been recycled.

The report also criticises the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for failing to put a system in place that guarantees adequate checks are carried out to ensure the exported waste actually is being recycled.

Sir Amyas Morse, head of the NAO, said: “If the UK wants to play its part in fully tackling the impacts of waste and pollution, a tighter grip on packaging recycling is needed. The government should have a much better handle on the risks associated with so much packaging waste being recycled overseas.”

While this is undoubtedly a very regrettable situation, we’re choosing to remain positive. If nothing else, maybe this will finally inspire more companies to ensure they only use packaging which is easy to recycle and prompt an overhaul of the UK’s recycling infrastructure.