What is The Big Plastic Count?
For one week, households, schools and community groups record every piece of plastic they throw away. This includes food packaging, bottles, wrappers, trays, tubs and any other plastic that ends up in the bin or recycling.
The project is designed to show how much plastic we all use in our daily lives and how much of it can actually be recycled. Participants use a simple tally sheet to track their plastic for seven days, then submit their results online. These results are combined with data from thousands of households, schools and community groups to build a national picture of the UK’s plastic footprint.
The findings help highlight which plastics are most common, which are hardest to recycle and where change is most urgently needed. The Big Plastic Count uses this evidence to call for stronger action from government and industry, including better packaging rules and improved recycling systems.
Why Do We Need ‘The Big Plastic Count’?
Plastic pollution is a growing challenge that affects our environment, our climate and our communities. Most of the plastic we use is designed for single use and much of it cannot be recycled, even when it is placed in the recycling bin. A significant amount is burned or exported, which creates further environmental impacts.
The Big Plastic Count helps reveal the true scale of the problem by gathering real data from everyday households. It shows how much plastic we throw away, what types are most common and how much ends up being recycled. This evidence strengthens the call for better packaging laws and more sustainable alternatives.
How To Get Involved?
Taking part in the Big Plastic Count is simple and only takes a few minutes each day. The process is designed to be easy to follow so that as many people as possible can contribute to the national picture.
You begin by signing up on the Big Plastic Count website. You can sign up here.
Once registered, you can download a tally sheet and a short guide that explains how to record your plastic waste. For one week, you note down every piece of plastic you throw away, whether it goes into the bin or the recycling. This includes food packaging, bottles, wrappers, trays and any other plastic items that leave your home.
At the end of the week, you submit your results online. Your data is then added to thousands of other entries from across the UK. Together, these results help build a clear and honest picture of how much plastic waste the country produces and how much of it can actually be recycled.
You can watch their video below.
Visit their website to sign up and find out more.