DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.13220812
title: Required recycling rate (RRR) dataset for imported plastic waste (2013–2022)

description: Overview

This repository provides a harmonised dataset of required recycling rates (RRR) for imported plastic waste across countries, plastic types, and years (2013–2022). The RRR values quantify the minimum recycling rate at which imported plastic waste becomes economically competitive with primary plastic production, based on country-specific trade prices and recycling cost data.

The dataset integrates international trade statistics, recycling cost components, and material composition assumptions to enable cross-country comparison and scenario-based analysis of recycling feasibility. While the data underpin a published study in Nature Communications, they are released here as a stand-alone, reusable research resource for economic and environmental analysis of plastic recycling systems.

This repository contains the following files:

• df_rrr_yr.xlsx: RRR values by plastic waste type, country, and year.  




Sheet on RRR
RRR by country, year, and plastic waste type


country
Country name of 22 research countries


period
2013-2022


type
Four plastic waste types including PE, PS, PVC, and Others


RRR
The minimum required recycling rate of imported plastic waste (calculated by using plastic waste imports and primar plastics exports)


RRR_mirror
RRR calculated by using mirror trade data (plastic waste exports and primary plastics imports)


Sheets on PE, PS, PVC, and Others
RRR and associated costs and recycling benefits of specific plastic waste type by country and year


waste_imports
Unit price for importing plastic waste of specific type


waste_exports
Unit price for exporting plastic waste of specific type


labour
labour cost for recycling per unit plastic waste


electricity
Electricity cost for recycling per unit plastic waste


rent
Rent cost for recycling per unit plastic waste


primary plastics imports
Unit price for importing primary plastics of specific type


primary plastics exports
Unit price for exporting primary plastics of specific type


Sheet on RRR changes by product range
Changes in RRR based on the share of HDPE and LDPE in recycled PE waste, and the share of PET and PP in recycled plastic waste 'others'


rate_change_min (%)
With the trade data of 22 research countries, minimum RRR change percentage for PE waste by assuming recycling into either HDPE or LDPE exclusively, or minimum RRR change percentage for PE waste by assuming recycling into either PET or PP exclusively


rate_change_max (%)
With the trade data of 22 research countries, maximum RRR change percentage for PE waste by assuming recycling into either HDPE or LDPE exclusively, or maximum RRR change percentage for PE waste by assuming recycling into either PET or PP exclusively


rate_mirror_change_min (%)
With the mirror trade data, minimum RRR change percentage for platic waste 'others' by assuming recycling into either HDPE or LDPE exclusively, or minimum RRR change percentage for platic waste 'others' by assuming recycling into either PET or PP exclusively


rate_mirror_change_max (%)
With the mirror trade data, maximum RRR change percentage for platic waste 'others' by assuming recycling into either HDPE or LDPE exclusively, or maximum RRR change percentage for platic waste 'others' by assuming recycling into either PET or PP exclusively




• code_rt_cselection.py: Selecting research countries during 2013-2022 using the UN Comtrade database.  

1. Import packages

2. Functions and lists defined

3. Retrieve original data 2013-2022

4. Drop "TOTAL MOT" in the reporter country if other MOT exist (drop the ambiguous transport mode if the transport mode is specified)

5. Replace zero and empty net weight values from similar trade

6. Average only: drop "TOTAL MOT" and repeated trade from the partner  

7. Research country selection  

• code_rt_cost.py: Compile costs of water, electricity, labour, and rent across countries.  

• code_rt_z3.py: Calculating the required recycling rate across countries and plastic waste types.  

1. Import packages

2. Functions and lists defined

3. Match 22 research countries with country codes in the UN Comtrade database

4. Primary plastics export  

5. Primary plastics import

6. Plastic waste import

7. Plastic waste export

8. Required recycling rate

9. Plots

• pkl.zip: Pickle files, compressed into a zip archive, store the original trade data and are required for running the Python scripts. 

• electricity cost_EU.xlsx: Electricity prices for non-household consumers of European countries during 2013-2022 (euro/kWh).  

• labour.xlsx: Annual recycling output and number of employees in plastic recycling companies across countries inSheet 1.  

• rent.xlsx: Industrial rents across countries during 2013-2022 (USD/m2) in Sheet 'unit price'. Annual recycling output and land occupation in plastic recycling companies across countries in Sheet 'area per tonne'.  

• Tariff List - IBNet Tariffs Database.xlsx: Water costs from IBNet Tariffs Database.

• ratio2.xlsx: Share of plastic types in plastic recycling.