# Welcome Welcome to the Plasteax documentation! Here you'll find an overview of all the features Plasteax has to help you reduce and better manage your plastic packaging waste. You'll find information about our API, the model we use to calculate end-of-life data, and how to use Plasteax for all your waste management data needs. | **Latest Plasteax version** | **1.4** | | --------------------------- | -------------------------- | | **Available COUNTRIES** | **76** | | **Available YEARS** | **2019, 2020, 2021, 2022** | ### Jump right in
OverviewLearn about Plasteax/pages/CyH2xJQs9yWJ1S8BYNav
API ReferenceLearn the basics of our API/pages/8Rsdh3xYy83rJ9x32WQk
ModelHow we calculate EOL data/pages/JAZhtc4xmzXHK0n8toDC
# What is Plasteax? In a nutshell, Plasteax is a database of plastic packaging waste data. It provides information on what happens to packaging post-consumer - things like; leakage rates, collection rates, mismanagement rates, recycling rates etc. Plasteax data can be used for plastic footprints, for making strategic decisions, and for eco-design. It is a reference for various types of polymers and packaging types, in a large variety of countries, for different periods of time. ​ ### **Addressing the environmental impact of plastic** Plastic is potentially harmful for the environment when it becomes waste. Depending on how plastic waste is managed within a country, we can determine an estimate for the footprint of a given product or service. How much plastic is recycled? How much is mismanaged? How much is well managed? Answering these questions enables you to gauge the overall impact of plastic consumption, and indicates ways to take action. Plasteax simplifies the process of collecting and analysing quality end-of-life data. The Plasteax team at [EA (Earth Action)](https://e-a.earth) aggregates dozens of data sources that are processed using the[ Plasteax model](/explainers/model) to determine the end-of-life "fate" of several different polymers, as several different packaging types, in over 70 different countries. Either with the [API](/api-reference) or via an Excel spreadsheet Plasteax provides the specific data needed to make more strategic, compliant, and lower impact design decisions. ### It starts and ends with data To calculate a plastic footprint or to make informed decisions about packaging first you need your **primary data**: what materials you have access to, what products you are packaging, what that packaging is made of, and what processes you use to manufacture it. Then, Plasteax gives you the **secondary data;** information and insights about what happens to packaging post-consumer. There is no point in creating wonderfully recyclable packaging if the country you are selling it in has no recycling infrastructure. In that case if you want to lower your impact on the environment you're better off investing in reducing the footprint of the packaging by improving the re-usability of the material, or investing the local recycling infrastructure itself. These are the kind of insights you can take from Plasteax. [
](https://www.climatiq.io/docs/guides/tutorials/quickstart)
# API Reference A walk through of the prerequisites and contextual knowledge you need to make Plasteax queries. This guide provides everything you need to access and work with plastic packaging end-of-life data. The Plasteax API offers researchers, sustainability professionals, and developers a powerful way to analyze and integrate plastic waste data into their applications and research. Whether you're building sustainability dashboards, conducting environmental impact assessments, or researching plastic waste flows, this API provides standardised, comprehensive data to support your work. ## Requirements * Access to the API endpoint (see section API endpoints for more details). * Familiarity with [curl](https://curl.se/) or other ways of interacting with HTTP APIs like [Postman](https://www.postman.com/), [Bruno](https://www.usebruno.com/), or directly from this page (see below). ## API endpoints There are two environments that can be explored using Plasteax API. The **production** environment provides access to the official Plasteax dataset, which requires an access key available exclusively through a Plasteax subscription. The **demo** environment which offers unrestricted access to mock data for all Plasteax metrics. **PROD**: ``` https://d0ks2qopw9.execute-api.eu-west-3.amazonaws.com/plasteax ``` All code examples in this documentation use the demo API for illustration. The methods described here can be directly applied to the production environment too. {% hint style="warning" %} Important: The demo (testing) API provides fake values. Do not use these values for real-world plastic footprints. {% endhint %} ## Introduction to plastic waste data concepts The Plasteax API provides data about plastic packaging at its end-of-life stage. Understanding a few key concepts will help you make effective use of this API: #### Datasets A dataset is the core resource in this API, containing facts about what happens to plastic packaging when it reaches the end of its useful life. #### Dimensions Each dataset is characterised by these four dimensions which you can use as filters: * **Country**: 3-letter ISO code (e.g., "FRA" for France) * **Category**: Product category (e.g., "Rigid non-food packaging") * **Polymer**: Type of plastic (e.g., "PET") * **Year**: Time period of data collection (e.g., 2020) #### Data types End-of-life data in includes two types of information: * **Material quantities**: Masses of material expressed in kilo-tonnes (kt). E.g., the total production and import of packaging for a given country. * **Ratios**: Percentages representing the proportion of materials with specific fates. E.g., the percentage of total production of a material that is leaked into ocean and waterways. ### Data dictionary The API returns the following fields: #### Material quantities (in kt) * `production_and_import`: Total production and import of packaging * `export`: Export of packaging * `added_stock`: Material added to existing stock * `waste_import`: Import of waste from other countries * `reexport_of_waste_import`: Re-export of imported waste * `recycling_of_waste_import`: Recycling of imported waste * `proper_disposal_of_waste_import`: Proper disposal of imported waste * `improper_disposal_of_waste_import`: Improper disposal of imported waste * `waste_produced_in_the_country`: Waste generated domestically #### Ratios (in percent) * `domestic_recycling_of_collected`: Percentage recycled within the country * `export_of_collected`: Percentage exported for processing * `incineration_and_energy_recovery`: Percentage incinerated for energy * `sanitary_landfill`: Percentage sent to proper landfills * `improperly_disposed`: Percentage disposed improperly * `littering`: Percentage directly littered * `uncollected_excluding_littering`: Percentage not collected (excluding litter) * `total`: Overall percentage (should sum to 100%) * `collected`: Percentage of waste collected * `mismanaged_including_littering`: Percentage mismanaged (includes littering) * `leaked_to_ocean_and_waterways`: Percentage entering oceans and waterways ### Dimensions A dataset is characterised by several dimensions: * country * category * polymer * year The API allows one to filter datasets along those dimensions to retrieve as specific or as broad a dataset as you require. ## API requests With all of that in mind here are some example requests. ### Get datasets To get all available datasets, run the following command. ```bash curl -L "https://2oqef6q7rg.execute-api.eu-west-3.amazonaws.com/plasteax/datasets" ``` You can filter the results by a specific dimension using query parameters. ```bash curl -L "https://2oqef6q7rg.execute-api.eu-west-3.amazonaws.com/plasteax/datasets?year=2020" ``` Or try running requests directly from this page. {% openapi src="/files/U3EvITaT2IBwRvi60cfk" path="/datasets" method="get" %} [openapi.yaml](https://2560226434-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fwy4KdoRRfCaMqTG1tUD4%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-6002c00511dcb5ceabecffa4feecbc915360c627%2Fopenapi.yaml?alt=media) {% endopenapi %} ### Get reference data The reference data include the available countries, product categories, polymers and years. You can fetch it using ```bash curl -L 'https://2oqef6q7rg.execute-api.eu-west-3.amazonaws.com/plasteax/reference-data' ``` Or try running requests directly from this page. {% openapi src="/files/U3EvITaT2IBwRvi60cfk" path="/reference-data" method="get" %} [openapi.yaml](https://2560226434-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fwy4KdoRRfCaMqTG1tUD4%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-6002c00511dcb5ceabecffa4feecbc915360c627%2Fopenapi.yaml?alt=media) {% endopenapi %} ### Get metadata The metadata includes the versions of the various databases as well as a list of reference papers that were used as data sources to build the Plasteax database. A quality score is also given to each reference paper. ```bash curl -L "https://2oqef6q7rg.execute-api.eu-west-3.amazonaws.com/plasteax/metadata" ``` Or try running requests directly from this page. {% openapi src="/files/U3EvITaT2IBwRvi60cfk" path="/metadata" method="get" %} [openapi.yaml](https://2560226434-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fwy4KdoRRfCaMqTG1tUD4%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-6002c00511dcb5ceabecffa4feecbc915360c627%2Fopenapi.yaml?alt=media) {% endopenapi %} ### Pagination When retrieving datasets, you can navigate through results using pagination: 1. Set the `page_size` parameter to control how many results to return per request 2. Start with `page=0` for the first page of results 3. Check the `pagination.total-pages` value in the response to know how many pages exist 4. Increment the `page` parameter to navigate to subsequent pages For additional support or to report issues, please contact the Plasteax team directly. # Overview An overview of what Plasteax is and does and provides Plasteax lays its foundation on three main pillars: * Model * Database * API (application programming interface)

Illustration of how Plasteax connects its model, its database, and its output to companies

The **model** is the collection of methods and assumptions that allow for the calculation of granular information about the fates of plastic waste. The model is fed with high-quality data about global plastic production and trade, together with the most recent and available information about waste management practices in the countries of interest. By processing this data, the model is able to: (i) distribute the packaging waste generated among 6 packaging categories and 9 plastic polymers, and (ii) break down each of these elements in its possible end-of-life fates. For a more detailed description of the model underlying Plasteax, visit the [model page](/explainers/model). Each time the Plasteax model 'runs', it produces data about at least one country, in at least one year; this data is then stored in the Plasteax **database**. The digital system that stores and structures the data produced. The **API** is the technology that allows users to interface directly with the database and allows you to query the entire, or just specific pieces, of the dataset. Visit the [API reference page](/api-reference) to learn more about the Plasteax API and how to use it. While for more details about the output produced by Plasteax we refer to the Plasteax output page.
# Get in touch We're here to help with any questions or feedback you may have about the API. Our team is committed to supporting your work in plastic waste analysis and sustainability initiatives. ### Contact options #### General inquiries For general questions, information about our data methodology, or assistance with API integration: * **Email**: * **Response time**: We might take a while, we're a small team but we do appreciate your questions #### Technical support Having trouble with the API or need help with implementation: * **Email**: * **Response time**: If you are already a client email us directly and we'll help you with 5 business days #### Partnership opportunities Interested in collaborating or learning more about our services and solutions: * **Email**: [contact@e-a.earth ](mailto:contact@e-a.earth)(and let us know you came from here) * **Check out the Earth Action website**: [e-a.earth](https://e-a.earth) ### Feedback We always want to improve our API and its documentation. Your feedback helps us make Plasteax better for everyone: * **Send feedback to**: and include 'FEEDBACK' in the subject. # How to fetch data on waste generated in Switzerland How to query the Plasteax database to obtain the domestic waste generated in Switzerland in 2021. This tutorial will guide you through the process of querying the waste produced in Switzerland in 2021 using the Plasteax API. We will cover how to structure the request and extract relevant data following two approaches: * Command Line (`curl` command) * Python (`requests` module) To retrieve waste data for Switzerland, you need to send a **GET request** with the appropriate query parameters. **API endpoint** ``` https://2oqef6q7rg.execute-api.eu-west-3.amazonaws.com/plasteax/datasets ``` {% hint style="warning" %} The provided URL is a testing API accessing a database with mock data. To get access to real Plasteax data, use the URL giving access to the real dataset. {% endhint %} ## Using the Command Line Run the following command in your terminal: ```bash curl -s "https://2oqef6q7rg.execute-api.eu-west-3.amazonaws.com/plasteax/datasets?country=CHE&year=2021&polymer=All%20polymers&category=All%20packaging" | jq . ``` The `-s` flag enables silent mode, hiding progress information. Use piping (`|`) with the command `| jq .` to format JSON output for better readability. Using `jq` is optional, but not doing so results in a less readable output. {% hint style="info" %} You might need to install the `jq` command in case this is not already present in your system. We refer to [this page](https://jqlang.org/) for more details regarding the installation of jq. {% endhint %} You may notice that we appended to the API's url the following string: ``` ?country=CHE&year=2021&polymer=All%20polymers&category=All%20packaging ``` The string begins with a `?` followed by the values of the parameters that one wants to filter through. Each parameter is separated by `&` , and for values containing a space (like `All packaging` or `All polymers`) it is necessary to replace the space character with `%20`. The resulting output will provide all the waste metrics related to the queried plastic types, in this case looking like: {% code overflow="wrap" %} ```bash { "pagination": { "total-items": 1 }, "elements": [ { "country": "CHE", "category": "All packaging", "polymer": "All polymers", "year": 2021, "production_and_import": { "amount": 0.1641169957, "unit": "kt" }, "export": { "amount": 0.2541901517, "unit": "kt" }, "added_stock": { "amount": 0.7775922097, "unit": "kt" }, "waste_import": { "amount": 0.8221494483, "unit": "kt" }, "reexport_of_waste_import": { "amount": 0.0227327712, "unit": "kt" }, "recycling_of_waste_import": { "amount": 0.3095788595, "unit": "kt" }, "proper_disposal_of_waste_import": { "amount": 0.080751776, "unit": "kt" }, "improper_disposal_of_waste_import": { "amount": 0.0229187221, "unit": "kt" }, "waste_produced_in_the_country": { "amount": 0.0324434147, "unit": "kt" }, "domestic_recycling_of_collected": { "amount": 0.8705851923, "unit": "percent" }, "export_of_collected": { "amount": 0.2905947668, "unit": "percent" }, "incineration_and_energy_recovery": { "amount": 0.6945896879, "unit": "percent" }, "sanitary_landfill": { "amount": 0.5443557105, "unit": "percent" }, "improperly_disposed": { "amount": 0.2169245555, "unit": "percent" }, "littering": { "amount": 0.5919855952, "unit": "percent" }, "uncollected_excluding_littering": { "amount": 0.7726378055, "unit": "percent" }, "total": { "amount": 0.2947628798, "unit": "percent" }, "collected": { "amount": 0.420612656, "unit": "percent" }, "mismanaged_including_littering": { "amount": 0.0795666505, "unit": "percent" }, "leaked_to_ocean_and_waterways": { "amount": 0.9158901908, "unit": "percent" } } ] } ``` {% endcode %} To extract information about a specific metric, e.g. the waste produced in the country, we can rely again on the `jq` command. By running the command ``` curl -s "https://2oqef6q7rg.execute-api.eu-west-3.amazonaws.com/plasteax/datasets?country=CHE&year=2021&polymer=All%20polymers&category=All%20packaging" | jq ".elements[0].waste_produced_in_the_country" ``` we finally obtain the desired output: ``` { "amount": 0.0324434147, "unit": "kt" } ``` ## Using Python Run the following script from a Jupiter note or a Python shell: ```python import requests # Define url and desired parameters url = 'https://2oqef6q7rg.execute-api.eu-west-3.amazonaws.com/plasteax/datasets' params = { 'country': 'CHE', 'year': '2021', 'polymer': 'All polymers', 'category': 'All packaging' } # Get the data from the Plasteax database response = requests.get(url, params=params) # Store the output in a JSON format output = response.json() # Extract info about waste generated result = output['elements'][0]['waste_produced_in_the_country'] print(result) ``` The resulting output provides the volume of waste generated in Switzerland in 2021 across all polymer types and packaging categories: ```python {'amount': 0.0324434147, 'unit': 'kt'} ``` # Background Brief overview of the framework behind the generation and management of plastic waste. In this section, we briefly introduce the topic of **plastic waste and its management**. We start with a high-level overview of the **dynamics** – origin and evolution – **of plastic materials**, to move to how the waste is generated and managed, and what are the different **end-of-life fates** of plastic waste. ## Dynamics of plastic materials Plastic waste derives from **primary** (plastic) **materials** and (plastic) **products** present in the country. Before being fully consumed, primary materials and products pass through a “usage” phase and may be considered as potential (or future) waste. The duration of this usage phase is related to the lifespan of a given material/product: e.g., for packaging, the average lifetime is 1 year, for products from the automotive industry the average lifetime is 15 years. Plastic materials and products **origin** from: 1. **production** within the country in the selected year 2. **stock** of materials and products from previous years which have not been consumed yet 3. **import** from other countries

Origin of plastic materials and plastic products

The possible outcomes for materials and products are: 1. to become **waste** 2. to contribute to the **new stock** of materials (when they don’t reach the end of life) 3. to be **exported** to other countries

Outcomes of plastic of materials and products

Once they enter the country, independently from their origin, materials and products can end up in any of the possible outcomes, each of which will have a different impact on the country’s plastic footprint.

Sources and outcomes of plastic materials and products

All sources and outcomes of plastic are re-grouped into the 3 following buckets: 1. **net input**, net quantity of plastic present in the country in the given year 2. **change in stock**, difference between new and old stock 3. **waste**, (same as before) plastic waste generated
The Plasteax model first splits the net input into waste generated and change in stock. Then it focuses on the waste generated to understand what is managed and how, and what is mismanaged. All this information is computed in a very granular form, and is be further discussed in the section dedicated to the [model](/explainers/model). ## Waste management: end-of-life of plastic waste Generated waste requires **management**. Breaking down the different fates that plastic waste undergoes is crucial in order to measure the environmental impact of plastic. Plastic waste is not considered to pollute the environment when it is **collected** and either **exported** or properly disposed (**recycling**, **incineration**, or **landfilling**). Pollution is caused by the share of plastic waste that is not properly disposed by a country’s waste management system (formal or informal) being therefore **mismanaged**. Mismanaged waste may originate from **uncollected** waste, **improperly disposed** waste, and **littering**. Ultimately, the share of mismanaged waste – a fraction of the total plastic waste – is what gets **leaked into the environment** (soil and other terrestrial compartments, water, and air). # Model Description of the theoretical model behind Plasteax. To compute data about the fates of plastic waste, we rely as much as possible on state-of-the-art research, widely accepted public data bases, and expert assumptions. This ensemble of research and assumptions results in the Plasteax model, of which we will give an overview in this section. The current Plasteax model is specifically designed to address plastic **packaging** waste. In the first step the model includes a general section that accounts for the plastic net input across all sectors. However, when the focus shifts to waste management, the model becomes highly dependent on data and parameters specific to plastic packaging. The **11 industry sectors** considered in Plasteax are: * Agriculture * Automotive (other) * Automotive (tyres) * Construction * Electrical & Electronics * Household, Leisure, Sport * Industrial packaging * Industrial products * Others * ***Packaging*** * Textile In this way it is possible in the future to develop a broader Plasteax model to estimate plastic waste data across the other sectors as well. But for now we start with packaging. *We refer to the section* [*Definitions*](/explainers/definitions) *for a detailed description of each industry sector.* ## The model for packaging The output of the model provides the distribution of plastic packaging waste into its possible **end-of-life fates**. The information is broken down into two levels of granularity: **polymer type** and **packaging category**. For instance, if we consider the polymer LDPE and the category flexible packaging, the model will specify how much of this particular product category (flexible packaging made of LDPE) is recycled, exported, incinerated, sent landfill, or mismanaged. In the following, we present the Plasteax schema as it applies to packaging.

Plasteax map, from Production and Trade to Leakage.

### Polymers and Categories Plasteax computes the shares of all fates of plastic waste in a highly granular form: by polymer type and product category. For packaging, the model accounts for **9 plastic polymers**: * PET * HDPE * LDPE * PP * PVC * PS * EPS * ABS * Other and **6** **packaging categories**: * Flexible packaging * Multi-layer packaging * Rigid food packaging * Rigid non-food packaging * PET bottles * Other bottles *We refer to the section* [*Definitions*](/explainers/definitions) *for a detailed description of each plastic polymer and packaging category.* # Step 1: Domestic waste generated Overview of the process to calculate the plastic net input and domestic waste generated within a country.

Plasteax scheme highlighting the step that calculates the domestic waste generated.

The main outcome of the first step is the calculation of the **domestic** **waste generated for the selected country in a given year**. Domestic waste refers to the waste generated by the country’s population and it does not account for trade of waste (import and export of waste). At the outset, an extensive list of industry sectors is considered, including agriculture, automotive (tires and other components), construction, electrical and electronics, household goods, industrial packaging, industrial products, packaging, textile, and others. For each sector, we calculate the **net input**, which represents the amount of plastic remaining within the country after accounting for trade. This is determined by summing domestic production and imports of plastic, then subtracting exports — covering both raw materials and finished products — while carefully avoiding double-counting. The net input essentially reflects the country’s plastic consumption for the year. Next, we estimate the share of this **net input that becomes waste.** Not all plastics consumed in a given year become waste in the same year; some sectors produce items with lifespans exceeding a year. The Plasteax model accounts for these variations when estimating waste generated from the net input. While this outlines the general process, for packaging, the approach is more straightforward: all packaging consumed in a given year is assumed to become waste within the same year. {% hint style="info" %} For other sectors, the model considers the lifespan of products (based on *'Geyer et al., Production, use, and fate of all plastics ever made, 2017’)* and estimates the amount of waste by examining the net input for the sector in previous years. The latter is reverse engineered considering the country's GDP history. {% endhint %} To achieve the desired level of granularity for packaging (by polymer and packaging category) while splitting by sector, mappings are applied when available data lacks sufficient detail. For example, production data may be provided by polymer but lack information on sector or category. In such cases, a polymer-to-sector matrix is used to allocate plastic input across different sectors. Subsequently, a packaging-specific polymer-to-category matrix is applied to break down the plastic packaging input into specific categories. Similarly, trade data may sometimes include the required granularity (by polymer, sector, and category), but in other cases, it might only be available by polymer. When this happens, polymer-to-sector and polymer-to-category mappings are used. In instances where data is only available at the sector level, without details on polymer or product category, a sector-to-polymer mapping is used to distribute the input across the different plastic polymers. By the end of this step, the model provides detailed information on waste generated by polymer and sector for all plastic polymers and sectors. **For packaging**, this step specifically yields **waste generation data by polymer and category**. The subsequent steps focus on waste management within the packaging sector. # Step 2: Recycling and Export Overview of the process to determine the shares of recycling and export out of the domestic waste generated.

Plasteax scheme highlighting the step that determines shares of plastic waste recycled and exported.

In this step, we calculate the **share of waste generated that is recycled or exported for each polymer and packaging category**. At this stage, waste trade (both imports and exports) is also taken into account. While waste export is a key outcome of the model, the import of waste is equally important for accurately allocating quantities among various waste management pathways. The inclusion of waste imports is crucial because recycling data often provides the total amount of plastic recycled without distinguishing whether the material originates from domestic or imported waste. To differentiate between recycling of domestic and imported waste, we must account for waste imports as well. Based on the volumes of imported waste, exports, and recycling, a **country is categorised into one of four profiles** to reflect its approach to managing imported waste: 1. **Recycler**: Primarily recycles imported waste, disposing of only a minimal amount. 2. **Trade Hub**: Mainly re-exports imported waste with minimal recycling or disposal. 3. **Disposer**: Disposes of a significant portion of imported waste. 4. **Mixed Profile**: Combines characteristics of the above categories, determined on a case-by-case basis using relevant literature. This classification provides an approach to determine how each country manages imported waste.

Typical situation for a recycler, a country that recycles most of its imported waste.

After addressing waste trade considerations, we proceed to analyse a country’s recycling practices. The model uses recycling quantities by polymer as input. Based on the country's profile, a portion of these quantities is allocated to the recycling of imported waste, with the remainder attributed to the recycling of domestic waste. This domestic recycling quantity is then distributed across different sectors. Within the packaging sector, it is further divided into various categories to achieve the model’s desired granularity. **Recycling is allocated by sector proportionally to the waste generated by each sector, and accounting for the sector's *****activity***** in using recycled plastics.** Once the amounts are assigned by sector and polymer, the focus shifts to the packaging sector, where **recycling quantities are allocated among different packaging categories**. This **distribution considers two main factors: the waste quantities generated by each category and the recyclability of each category** — i.e., how readily that type of packaging can be recycled. For instance, PET food bottles are generally more widely collected and recycled compared to PET non-food rigid packaging. As such, when assigning PET recycling quantities, a larger share is allocated to bottles, with smaller proportions assigned to other categories. A similar approach is used for analysing **plastic waste exports**. Here, the starting value is the total plastic waste exported by the country. Using the country profile, we exclude the portion representing the re-export of imported waste, leaving only the export of domestic waste. This remaining quantity is then distributed by polymer, sector, and ultimately packaging category. The allocation by sector is based on the proportion of waste generated by each sector. Within the packaging sector, the **distribution by polymer and category is proportional to the waste quantities generated by polymer and category, after removing the share of recycling**. The assumption underlying this step is that, once recycling — typically highly dependent on polymer and category — is addressed, the remaining waste is exported with minimal differentiation between polymers and categories. # Step 3: Incineration and Landfill Overview of the process to determine the shares of incineration and landfill out of the domestic waste generated.

Plasteax scheme highlighting the step that determines shares of plastic waste incinerated and landfilled.

This section of the model focuses on determining the amount of plastic waste, by polymer and category, that ends up in one of the other "properly disposed" fates: incineration and landfilling. The overall percentages of waste allocated to these fates are sourced from external data, including Eurostat, Census reports, national statistics, and scientific publications. If sector-specific data (e.g., for packaging) is available, these percentages can be applied directly to the different polymers and categories, in proportion to the amount of waste remaining for each combination. By this stage in the model, we have already accounted for the quantities of waste that have been recycled, exported, or littered (further explained in the next section). Therefore, the remaining waste for each polymer and category is calculated by subtracting these three fates from the total waste. However, detailed sector-specific data is often unavailable, and **available data typically pertains to municipal solid waste** (MSW), which includes packaging, textile, and household waste. In such cases, before assigning incineration and landfilling percentages to the different polymers and categories, we must first estimate the portion of MSW that comes from packaging as opposed to other sectors. To achieve this, we distribute the total incinerated (or landfilled) MSW across sectors in proportion to the waste generated by each sector. Since recycling, exporting, and littering quantities have already been allocated by sector, sectors with higher recycling rates — such as packaging — will receive proportionally smaller amounts for incineration and landfilling. At the end of this step, the **quantities of waste destined for incineration and landfilling are assigned to each specific polymer and packaging category combination**. # Step 4: Mismanaged Waste and Leakage Overview of the process to determine the share domestic waste that is mismanaged and the fraction of the latter that is leaked to oceans and waterways.

Plasteax scheme highlighting the step that determines the share of plastic waste that is mismanaged and, eventually, gets leaked into water.

A key output of the model is the estimation of **how much waste from the different categories is mismanaged**, meaning it ultimately ends up in the environment at the end of its life cycle. This mismanagement can occur due to **littering**, **lack of waste collection**, or **improper disposal** (e.g., disposal in unsanitary landfills). To estimate the proportion of waste that is **littered**, littering rates (percentages of waste littered) are applied to various categories and polymers, based on data from a Eunomia report that observed littering behaviour in Europe. For waste that is **uncollected** or **improperly disposed**, external data sources such as Eurostat, Census reports, national statistics, and scientific publications are used. The model for these disposal fates mirrors the approach used for landfilling and incineration, but in this case, the remaining waste quantities are adjusted by subtracting the amounts allocated to landfilling and incineration too (in addition to those of recycling, export, and littering). Once the quantities of mismanaged waste (littered, uncollected, and improperly disposed) are calculated, the final step of the model estimates **how much of this waste reaches oceans and freshwater bodies**. Release rates specific to different waste categories are applied, without distinguishing by polymer. These rates depend on factors such as the size of the category and its value in the informal waste sector. Categories with higher value are more likely to be recovered from dumpsites by the informal sector, reducing the likelihood of waste entering waterways. # Data Sources These are the various original data sources that we use as the inputs to our [model](/explainers/model) to calculate the end-of-life fate data of different plastics and packaging types. {% hint style="info" %} If you want to suggest potential other sources please get in touch with and let us know {% endhint %} ## International Sources * Gaulier, G., & Zignago, S. (2010). *Baci: international trade database at the product-level (the 1994-2007 version).* * Elliott et al. (2018). *Assessment of measures to reduce marine litter from single use plastics.* ICF and Eunomia, M. European Commission, Brussels. * GAIA (2019). *Discarded: Communities on the Frontlines of the Global Plastic Crisis.* * OECD (2019). *Global Plastics Outlook Database.* * Blue environment (2020). National Waste Report 2020 - prepared for Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment * Kaza Silpa, Yao Lisa C., Bhada-Tata Perinaz, Van Woerden Frank (2018), What a Waste 2.0 : A Global Snapshot of Solid Waste Management to 2050 * United Nations Statistics Division, UN COMTRADE. International Merchandise Trade Statistics. ## Regional Source ### **Asia** * Navarre et al. (2022) Recycled plastic packaging from the Dutch food sector pollutes Asian oceans; ### Europe * Plastics Europe (2020), PlasticsEurope Polska annual report 2019 * Eurostat (extracted Oct. 2021) waste generation and treatment database. * EU Infringements Decisions, May 2020; * EU Infringements Decisions, October 2021 * EU Infringements Decisions, July 2021 * EU Infringements Decisions, February 2022 * European Environmental Agency (2014). Horizon 2020 Mediterranean report - Annex 6 ### **Latin America and the Caribbean** * IDB (2010). *Regional evaluation on urban solid waste management in Latin America and the Caribbean - 2010 Report.* * IDB (2012). *Solid waste management in Latin America and the Caribbean.* * Jambeck et al. (2020). *Plastic Waste Management and Leakage in Latin America and the Caribbean.* * UNEP (2018). *Waste Management Outlook for Latin America and the Caribbean.* * Hettiarachchi H., Ryu S., Caucci S., Silva R. (2018), Municipal Solid Waste Management in Latin America and the Caribbean: Issues and Potential Solutions from the Governance Perspective * Riqelme et al. (2016). Solid Waste Management in the Caribbean Proceedings from the Caribbean Solid Waste Conference ### **Middle East and North Africa** * Thabit et al. (2022). *Facts and Figures on Aspects of Waste Management in the Middle East and North Africa Region.* * UNEP (2019). *Waste Management Outlook for West Asia.* * Zafar (2018). *Waste Management Outlook for the Middle East.* * African Clean Cities Platform (2019) Africa Solid Waste Management Data Book 2019\_Recueil de données sur la gestion des déchets solides en Afrique * ONU (2015) L’Avenir de la Gestion des Déchets en Afrique * GCC-STAT (2020) Waste statistics in the GCC countries (Arab version) ## Country-Specific Sources ### **Argentina** * World Bank (2015). *Diagnóstico de la Gestión Integral de Residuos Sólidos Urbanos en la Argentina.* ### **Bahrain** * Coskuner et al. (2020) Quantification of landfill gas generation and renewable energy potential in arid countries: Case study of Bahrain * Blanchard et al. (2021) An Evaluation of Waste Management for Energy Recovery for Bahrain. ### **Bangladesh** * Suiko Yoshijima et al. (2021). *Towards a Multisectoral Action Plan for Sustainable Plastic Management in Bangladesh.* * Salma Akter Urme et al. (2021). *Dhaka landfill waste practices: addressing urban pollution and health hazards.* * UNEP/CCAC (2013). *Solid Waste Management in Dhaka.* ### **Brazil** * Abrelpe (2020). *Panorama dos resíduos sólidos no Brasil.* * Fidelis et al. (2020). *Socio-productive inclusion of scavengers in municipal solid waste management in Brazil, Practices, paradigms and future prospects.* ### **Cambodia** * Pheakdey et al. (2022). *Challenges and Priorities of Municipal Solid Waste Management in Cambodia.* * Sethy et al. (2014). *Municipal Solid Waste Management in Cambodia.* ### **Canada** * ECCC, Deloitte (2019) Economic Study of the Canadian Plastic Industry, Markets And Waste ### **China** * CRRA (2020). *China renewable resource recovery development report.* * ChinaBaoGao (2021). *China plastics recycling industry analysis report.* * MSW management (2020). *National Bureau of Statistics of China.* * WorldBank (2019). *Urban and Rural Municipal Solid Waste in China and the Circular Economy.* ### **Colombia** * Superservicios (2019). *Informe de disposición final de residuos sólidos Colombia - 2018.* * DANE (accessed in Oct.2021). Censo nacional de población y vivienda 2018 - Colombia ### **Ecuador** * INEC (2021). Estadistica de Información Ambiental Económica en Gobiernos Autónomos Descentralizados Municipales. Gestion de Residuos Solidos 2020. * INEC (2019). Tabulados del Modulo de Información Ambiental en Hogares, ESPND 2019. Cuadro 5 ### **Egypt** * BMZ (2019). *Improving waste management in Egypt.* * Dr. Tarek Zaki et al. (2014). *Country report on the solid waste management in Egypt.* * Elfeki et al. (2015). *Treatment of municipal organic solid waste in Egypt.* * Mohamed El Raey (2015). *Egypt National Action Plan for Land-Based Sources of Pollution in the Mediterranean Sea.* ### **Greece** * Eurostat (extracted Oct. 2021) waste generation and treatment database. Ethnos, 2021, Greece reduces fines from the EU by 32% for illegal landfills (article in Greek). ### **India** * CPCB (2020-2021), Annual Report on Implmentation of Solid Waste Management Rules * Ministry of Housing and Urbain Affairs, Government of India (2019), Plastic Waste Management: Issues, Solutions and Case Studies * Akhilesh Kumar, Avlokita Agrawal (2020), Recent trends in solid waste management status, challenges, and potential for the future Indian cities - A review ### **Indonesia** * NPAP (2020). Radically reducing plastic pollution in Indonesia : industry action roadmap indonesia national plastic action partnership. In WEF. ### **Italy** * CJEU Case Law C498-17 Commission vs Italy (2019). ### **Jamaica** * NSWMA (2015). Waste characterisation studies 2015; Statistical Insititute of Jamaica () ### Japan * Plastic Waste Management Institute(2019) An Introduction to Plastic Recycling. * Takashi, Amemiya (2018) Current State and Trend of Waste and Recycling in Japan. ### **Kenya** * Elliott et al. (2018). Plastic Packaging Waste Flows in Kenya. Eunomia Research & Consulting Ltd, 37. * IUCN/UNEP (2020). National Guidance for plastic pollution hotspotting and shaping action - Report for Kenya. ### **Kuwait** * Alsulaili et al. (2016). *An integrated solid waste management system in Kuwait.* * Council for planning and development (2019). *Kuwait National development plan 2020-2025.* * UNHabitat (2016). National report kuwait housing and sustainable urban development. ### Latvia * European Environment Agency (2022). *Early warning assessment related to the 2025 targets for municipal waste and packaging waste - Country profile: Latvia.* ### **Malaysia** * Ministry of Environment, Plastic waste control plan (2020). * WWF (2020). *Study on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Scheme Assessment for Packaging Waste in Malaysia.* * Cheng et al., (2022) A Review of Future Household Waste Management for Sustainable Environment in Malaysian Cities * Chen et al., (2020) The plastic waste problem in Malaysia: management, recycling and disposal of local and global plastic waste * GAIA (2019). Discarded: Communities on the Frontlines of the Global Plastic Crisis ### **Mexico** * Holland Circular Hotspot, (2021) Waste Management in the LATAM Region: Waste Management Country Report: Mexico ### Morocco * Oxford Business Group (2020), Modernisation of Morocco's waste-management infrastructure receives international support * WWF (2019), Stop the flood of plastic. A guide for policy makers in Morocco ### Mozambique * IUCN/UNEP (2020). National Guidance for plastic pollution hotspotting and shaping action - Report for Mozambique. * IUCN/UNEP (2020). National Guidance for plastic pollution hotspotting and shaping action - Report for Mozambique * Trade Data Monitoring (2022), 2019 data for Mozambique. ### **New Zealand** * Estimates of waste generated in Aotearoa New Zealand. BERL (2019) Waste to energy – The incineration option * Ministry for the Environment (2019). *Estimates of waste generated in Aotearoa New Zealand.* * Plastics New Zealand (2005). *Sustainable End-of-Life Options for Plastics in New Zealand.* ### Nigeria * Kehinde et al. (2020). Plastic wastes: environmental hazard and instrument for wealth creation in Nigeria ### **Pakistan** * Asian development bank(2022), Solid waste management sector in pakistan march 2022 a reform road map for policy makers * unescap (2014), Baseline Study for Solid Waste Management - Karachi * Report, world bank group (2021). Pakistan: Sustainable Solid Waste Management in Mountain Areas * International Trade Administration (2021), Pakistan Country Commercial Guide ### **Panama** * Holland Circular Hotspot (2021). Waste Management Country Report - Panama * UNSTATS (2015). Panama Cuadro R3: Gestión de desechos municipales. * Urban Ocean (2021) Enhance the recovery of recyclable material in Panama City. ### Peru * Instituto Nacional de Estadistica e Informatica (2020). MÓDULO V: Servicios publicos locales saneamiento ambiental e salubridad, Cuadro 09. * Instituto Nacional de Estadistica e Informatica (2016). Anuario Estatistico Ambientale. Componente 3: Residuos ### **Philippines** * WWF (2021). *EPR scheme assessment for plastic packaging waste in the Philippines.* * World Bank Group (2021). *Market Study for the Philippines: Plastics Circularity Opportunities and Barriers.* ### Poland * Journalismfund (2021) The waste mafia: Tracing illegal waste exports from germany to Poland. * Mohamed Alwaeli (2015) An overview of municipal solid waste management in Poland: The current situation, problems and challenges. ### **Qatar** * Mariyam et al. (2022). *Waste Management in Qatar: A Systematic Literature Review and Recommendations for System Strengthening.* * Thabit et al. (2022). *Facts and Figures on Aspects of Waste Management in the Middle East and North Africa Region.* * Planning and Statistics Authority, (June 2021). Environment Statistics Report in the State of Qatar 2020; ### Republic of Korea * New Policy Framework with Plastic Waste Control Plan for Effective Plastic Waste Management (2020) * An Estimation of Actual Recycling and Final Disposal Rates of Municipal Solid Waste by Material Flow Analysis in Korea (2019) * kosis.kr Excel on informal collection (2020); Urban Informatics in Sustainable Waste Management: A Spatial Analysis of Korea’s Informal Recycling Networks (2021) * The Health Status of InformalWaste Collectors in Korea (2020) ### **Russia** * Wünsch et al. (2022) Municipal solid waste management in Russia: potentials of climate change mitigation * IFC(2014) Waste in russia: garbage or valuable resource? ### **Rwanda** * The World Bank (2022). *Plastic Waste Management in Rwanda: An Ex-post Policy Analysis.* ### **Saudi Arabia** * BioEnergy Consult (2022). Recycling and Waste-to-Energy Prospects in Saudi Arabia * Hadidi et al. (2020). Deploying Municipal Solid Waste Management 3R-WTE Framework in Saudi Arabia: Challenges and Future * Ossama et al. (2020). A Review of Municipal Solid Waste Management Practices in Saudi Arabia * Radwan et al. (2021). Optimization of solid waste collection using RSM approach, and strategies delivering sustainable development goals (SDG’s) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia * Arabnews (2022). How a culture of recycling can reduce waste generation in Saudi Arabia; ### **Singapore** * Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources National Environment Agency (2019). *Zero Waste Masterplan Singapore.* * Singapore Environment Council (2018). *Consumer Plastic & Plastic Resource Ecosystem in Singapore.* * Sustainability and the Environment (2021). *Launch of the Plastics Recycling Association of Singapore.* ### **South Africa** * IUCN/UNEP (2020). *National Guidance for plastic pollution hotspotting and shaping action - Report for South Africa.* ### Switzerland * Office fédéral de l'environnement (2019). Recyclage des emballages pour boissons en 2019 * Federal Office for the Environment (2022). Waste Disposal methods. * Klotz and Haupt (2022). A high-resolution dataset on the plastic material flows in Switzerland ### **Tanzania** * IUCN/UNEP (2020). National Guidance for plastic pollution hotspotting and shaping action - Report for Tanzania. ### **Thailand** * IUCN/UNEP (2020). National Guidance for plastic pollution hotspotting and shaping action - Report for Thailand. ### **Tunisia** * GIZ, SWEEP-Net, ANGed (2014). *Report on solid waste management in Tunisia.* * Agence Nationale de Protection de l'Environnement (2020). Evaluation nationale des indicateurs H2020/PAN - Tunisie ### **Turkey** * Karasik, R. Duke University (2022). *Plastic Pollution Policy Country Profile: Turkey.* * Turkish Statistical Institute (2022). *Waste Statistics.* ### **Uganda** * CARE International (2019). *Plastic waste recycling and local manufacturing of products made from the recycled plastic.* * Castellani et al. (2022). *Setting priorities to achieve Sustainable Development Goals through appropriate waste management systems in Uganda.* * NatuRes (2021). *Exploring PET plastic waste flows in Greater Kampala.* ### **United Arab Emirates** * Federal Competitiveness and Statistic Centre (2016) Waste Statistics * SCAD (Statistic Centre Abu Dhabi) (2019) Waste statistics in Abu Dhabi emirate; ### **United States** * EPA (2020). *Advancing Sustainable Materials Management: 2018 Fact Sheet.* * Law et al. (2020). *The United States’ contribution of plastic waste to land and ocean.* ### Uruguay * Grau Javier, Terraza Horacio, Rodríguez Velosa Diana Milena, Rihm Alfredo, Sturzenegger Germán (2015), Solid Waste Management in Latin America and the Caribbean * Ministerio de Ambiente (2021), Plan nacional de gestión de residuos ### Vietnam * IUCN/UNEP (2020). *National Guidance for plastic pollution hotspotting and shaping action - Report for Vietnam.* * GA Circular and WEF (2020). Vietnam National Plastic Action Plan - Roadmap to Radically Reduce Plastic Leakage * World Bank Group (2022). Market Study for Vietnam : Plastics Circularity Opportunities and Barriers. Marine Plastics Series. * MONRE (2019). National Environmental Status Report 2019, Theme: Management of solid waste (in Vietnamese) ### Zambia * Sambo et al. (2020). Sustainable Solid Waste Management: An Assessment of Solid Waste Treatment in Lusaka, Zambia. * Tejumola et al. (2012). Ni Vus Ni Connus : La Contribution Des Récupérateurs Informels Dans Les Pays En Développement # Definitions ## Waste Generation * **Production**: Polymer production either from primary virgin source or secondary source (recycled plastic from previous year). It does not include the manufacturing of final products in the country. * **Export**: Export of any plastic by the country, in any form, be it primary polymer, plastic product, or plastic embedded in a product (plastic share in cars or phones). It does not include export of plastic waste. * **Import**: Import of any plastic in the country, in any form, be it primary polymer, plastic product, or plastic embedded in a product (plastic share in cars or phones). It does not include import of plastic waste. * **Waste export**: Plastic waste collected in the country and exported abroad. * **Net input**: Country domestic plastic consumption, computed as: Production + Import - Export. * **Added stock**: Plastic put on the market on a given year that is not becoming waste within the same year. This part of the plastic input is considered as plastic stock for the given year as it will become waste in another year (e.g. plastic used in construction or automotive).\ \ Similarly there is plastic that was put on the market in previous years and that is becoming waste in the chosen year. The difference between these two quantities is the added stock. * **Domestic Waste Generated**: Total waste generated within a country by its population and its economic activities. In Plasteax model it is computed as: Production + Import – Export – Added stock. It does not include waste imported from other countries. ## Waste Management * **Waste Collected**: The amount of waste generated that is moved from the point of generation, such as specific addresses or designated collection points, to facilities where the waste is recovered, disposed (properly or improperly) or exported.\ \ It includes all collection modalities (e.g., by municipal governments, non-state actors or informal sector).\ \ \&#xNAN;*Built on the definition given in:* [*Waste Wise Cities Tool:*](https://fukuoka.unhabitat.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Waste-wise-cities-tool-EN-13.pdf) *Step by Step Guide to Assess City Municipal Solid Waste Management Performance through SDG 11.6.1 Indicator Monitoring. UN-Habitat, 2021.*\\ * **Uncollected**: Waste that is not collected, neither by the formal or informal sector. In the Plasteax model, this does not include behavioural littering. * **Littering:** Behavioural littering, that is the act of dropping waste on the ground in public areas. Calculated as a fraction of the waste generated. * **Collection rate**: Ratio between plastic waste collected and plastic waste generated. * **Recycling**: Waste that is recycled, mechanically or chemically. Calculated as a fraction of the waste generated. * **Properly disposed:** Waste that is disposed of in a waste management system where no leakage is expected to occur, such as an incineration facility or a sanitary landfill. * **Landfill**: Waste that is disposed of in controlled and sanitary areas via managed leachate, stabilized slopes, compaction and regular covers. Calculated as a fraction of the waste generated. * **Incineration**: Waste that is incinerated in a controlled way, with or without energy recovery. Calculated as a fraction of the waste generated. * **Improperly disposed**: Waste that is collected and transported to areas which do not fulfil basic management and sanitary requirements, such as dumpsites and unsanitary landfills. Calculated as a fraction of the waste generated. * **Export:** Waste that is collected and exported to other countries. Calculated as a fraction of the waste generated. * **Mismanaged**: It embodies waste that is improperly disposed, uncollected, and littered. Calculated as a fraction of the waste generated. * **Leakage to Water:** Plastic mismanaged that ends up being released to rivers, lakes and oceans. Calculated as a fraction of the waste generated. ## Sectors * **Agriculture:** This sector involves the use of plastics in agricultural activities, including applications such as irrigation, greenhouse covering, mulching, etc. Products in this sector include irrigation pipes, greenhouse films, mulch films, and silage wraps. The main process considered is plastic extrusion, particularly for creating pipes and films used in agriculture. * **Automotive-other:** This sector covers the use of plastics in automotive components excluding tyres. It includes interior parts, exterior body components, and under-the-hood applications. Examples of products in this sector are dashboard components, bumpers, door panels, and engine covers. Various molding processes, such as injection and die moulding, are typically used and considered for manufacturing these automotive parts. * **Automotive-tyres:** This sector specifically refers to the production and use of plastic materials in automotive tyres, involving polymers used as additives or blends in tyre manufacturing. Products include synthetic rubber components and tyre treads. * **Construction:** This sector includes the use of plastics in construction for infrastructure, buildings, and housing, covering a wide range of applications from structural components to interior design elements. Products include pipes, conduits, insulation materials, wall and floor coverings, as well as window and door profiles. Extrusion is the primary process considered for creating pipes, conduits, and profiles. * **Electrical & Electronics:** This sector involves the use of plastics in electrical and electronic equipment, covering products ranging from household electronics to industrial electrical components. Examples include insulation for cables, housings for electronic devices, connectors, switches, and circuit boards. The typical considered processes here include injection molding for housings and extrusion for cables. * **Household, Leisure, Sport:** This sector includes consumer goods made from plastics used in households, leisure activities, and sports. Examples of products are household containers and utensils, toys, recreational equipment, and sports gear like helmets and protective padding. Manufacturing processes considered in this data involves injection molding, for creating durable goods, and blow molding for hollow products like bottles and containers. * **Industrial Packaging:** This sector involves plastics used for the packaging of industrial goods, focusing on materials that provide protection, containment, and transport efficiency. Typical products include large containers, drums, pallets, wrapping films, and intermediate bulk containers and typically uses the same manufacturing process as the ‘normal’ packaging application. * **Industrial Products:** This sector covers various industrial applications where plastics are used in non-packaging roles, often as integral parts of machinery or components in manufacturing processes. Products include machine parts, casings, industrial pipes, fittings, and storage tanks. The processes considered include injection molding for machine parts and extrusion for pipes and structural components. * **Others:** This is a miscellaneous category that includes plastics used in applications that do not fit into the other defined sectors, capturing niche applications and emerging uses of plastics. * **Packaging:** This sector involves plastics used in the packaging of consumer goods, including food packaging, beverage bottles, and other types of consumer product packaging. Examples of products include food wrap films, beverage bottles, blister packs, and clamshells. Manufacturing processes typically involve blow molding for bottles and extrusion for films and sheets. * **Textile:** This sector involves the use of plastics in textile applications, including fibers and fabrics used in clothing, furnishings, and insulation. The process considered when manufacturing these plastics is fibre spinning. # Change log Welcome to the Plasteax Change log. This page documents all significant updates, improvements, and fixes made to the Plasteax platform. We maintain this change log to provide transparency about Plasteax developments and to help you stay informed about new features and enhancements. Each release is documented with version numbers, release dates, and descriptions of changes. Major updates will be highlighted at the top, followed by a chronological list of previous releases. *** ## Plasteax v1.4 – Change Log We’d like to introduce you to Plasteax v1.4. **What’s New?** ✅ Added Guatemala * Data for years 2019-2020-2021-2022 Adding Guatemala is a part of some ongoing work the Plasteax team is doing for a specific Plasteax client. Every time we add a new country to Plasteax we give access to all other Plasteax users as well at no extra cost. This update brings the total number of countries published in Plasteax to 76. Let us know if you have any questions: ## Plasteax v1.3 – Change Log We’d like to introduce you to Plasteax v1.3. **What’s New?** ✅ Added Laos * Data for years 2019-2020-2021-2022 Adding Laos is a part of some ongoing work the Plasteax team is doing for a specific Plasteax client. Every time we add a new country to Plasteax we give access to all other Plasteax users as well at no extra cost. This update brings the total number of countries published in Plasteax to 75. Let us know if you have any questions: ## Plasteax v1.2.1 – Change Log We’d like to introduce you to Plasteax v1.2.1. What’s New? ✅ Updated Recycling percentages for Tanzania 2022 This new version updates the assumptions for Tanzania’s recycling quantities for 2022 to improve data quality for the country. Every time we update data for a published country, we provide access to all Plasteax users without any additional cost. Let us know if you have any questions: ## Plasteax v1.2 – Change Log We’d like to introduce you to Plasteax v1.2. **What’s New?** ✅ Added Paraguay * Data for years 2019-2020-2021-2022. Adding Paraguay is a part of some ongoing work the Plasteax team is doing for a specific Plasteax client. Every time we add a new country to Plasteax we are glad to be able to give access to all other Plasteax users as well at no extra cost. Let us know if you have any questions: ## Plasteax v1.1 – Change Log We’d like to introduce you to Plasteax v1.1. This update brings 2022 data for 73 countries, along with improvements and bug fixes to enhance accuracy and functionality. **What’s New?** ✅ Updated Data * Added 2022 production and recycling data. * Added 2022 import-export data (BACI v202401b). * Updated World Bank data on Industry Value Added and GDP growth rates (includes revisions for previous years). * Updated information on waste management for 2022. ✅ Model improvement * Updated historical net input calculations for 2019-2020-2021. * Enhanced mass balance checks. * Improved handling of country-specific exceptions. This update ensures more reliable and comprehensive data for better insights. Let us know if you have any questions. ***