Europe ramps up PET bottle recycling to hit 90% target as global plastic waste crisis deepens

The European Union has set an ambitious goal to recycle at least 90% of PET beverage containers, prompting wider adoption of deposit‑return schemes such as the Dutch "statiegeld" system, where consumers pay a small charge that is refunded upon returning the empty bottle.

Advanced sorting facilities now use high‑speed optical sensors to separate plastics by polymer type, colour and composition, producing food‑grade recycled resin that can replace virgin material. Yet experts warn that recycling alone cannot keep pace with the volume of plastic waste, noting that only about 9% of global plastic waste is currently recycled and that waste entering rivers and oceans could triple by 2040 without urgent action. Industry leaders stress that reducing product waste and redesigning items for reuse are essential complements to recycling technologies.

The combined push for better collection, high‑tech processing, and circular‑economy design aims to curb the environmental impact of single‑use plastics while supporting the EU’s legal targets and broader sustainability goals.