Plastic waste exports in Ireland
Ireland: Plastic waste exports was 70,923 tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Plastic waste exports in Ireland, 1992–2024
Source: United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
Ireland recorded 70,923 tonnes for plastic waste exports in 2024. That is the highest value across all 33 years on record.
Over the whole period, plastic waste exports in Ireland peaked at 70,923 tonnes in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0 tonnes, in 2013.
Ireland ranks 11th of 167 regions on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1,175 tonnes | 254.27 tonnes | 2,318 tonnes | 8 |
| 2000s | 12,458 tonnes | 2,247 tonnes | 36,888 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 11,675 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 40,897 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 24,202 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 70,923 tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
More environment data for Ireland
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF 59.68 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF per capita 11.06 t CO2e/capita (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture 15.58 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) 0.0879 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) 1.23 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Industrial Combustion (Energy) 0.0115 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF 18.11 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) 0.0209 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Transport (Energy) 0.0087 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Waste 1.16 Mt CO2e (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is plastic waste exports in Ireland?
- Plastic waste exports in Ireland was 70,923 tonnes in 2024, according to United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest plastic waste exports recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 70,923 tonnes in 2024.
- What is the lowest plastic waste exports recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 tonnes in 2013.
- How does Ireland rank for plastic waste exports?
- Ireland ranks 11th out of 167 regions with data for 2024.
- Where does this Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Plastic waste exports. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 33 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
The amount of plastic waste a country exports to other countries, measured in tonnes per year.