Plastic leakage to the environment

Two indicative approaches: published IUCN estimates and a conservative inventory flow model.

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Study-based plastic leakage estimate

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Last updated Jul 12, 2026

Breakdown

Study-based leakage by plastic type

tonnes

Raw data

Public observations only. Provisional estimates are labelled; internal records and empty placeholders are excluded.

Block	Year	Category	Value	Units	Evidence	Source
Study-based plastic leakage estimate	2015	Total	2,711	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based plastic leakage estimate	2016	Total	3,022	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based plastic leakage estimate	2017	Total	3,333	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based plastic leakage estimate	2018	Total	3,644	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based plastic leakage estimate	2019	Total	3,944	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based plastic leakage estimate	2020	Total	4,255	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based plastic leakage estimate	2021	Total	4,566	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based plastic leakage estimate	2022	Total	4,877	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based plastic leakage estimate	2023	Total	5,188	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based plastic leakage estimate	2024	Total	5,499	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based leakage by plastic type	2015	HDPE	67.36	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based leakage by plastic type	2015	LDPE	325.81	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based leakage by plastic type	2015	Other	1,510.85	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based leakage by plastic type	2015	PET	303.82	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based leakage by plastic type	2015	PP	233.71	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based leakage by plastic type	2015	PS	225.46	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based leakage by plastic type	2015	PVC	43.3	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based leakage by plastic type	2015	Total	2,710.31	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based leakage by plastic type	2016	HDPE	75.09	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based leakage by plastic type	2016	LDPE	363.19	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based leakage by plastic type	2016	Other	1,684.17	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based leakage by plastic type	2016	PET	338.67	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based leakage by plastic type	2016	PP	260.52	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based leakage by plastic type	2016	PS	251.32	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based leakage by plastic type	2016	PVC	48.27	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based leakage by plastic type	2016	Total	3,021.23	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based leakage by plastic type	2017	HDPE	82.82	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based leakage by plastic type	2017	LDPE	400.57	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based leakage by plastic type	2017	Other	1,857.49	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based leakage by plastic type	2017	PET	373.53	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based leakage by plastic type	2017	PP	287.33	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based leakage by plastic type	2017	PS	277.19	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based leakage by plastic type	2017	PVC	53.24	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based leakage by plastic type	2017	Total	3,332.15	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based leakage by plastic type	2018	HDPE	90.55	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based leakage by plastic type	2018	LDPE	437.95	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based leakage by plastic type	2018	Other	2,030.81	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based leakage by plastic type	2018	PET	408.38	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based leakage by plastic type	2018	PP	314.14	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based leakage by plastic type	2018	PS	303.05	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based leakage by plastic type	2018	PVC	58.21	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based leakage by plastic type	2018	Total	3,643.08	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based leakage by plastic type	2019	HDPE	98	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based leakage by plastic type	2019	LDPE	474	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based leakage by plastic type	2019	Other	2,198	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based leakage by plastic type	2019	PET	442	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based leakage by plastic type	2019	PP	340	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based leakage by plastic type	2019	PS	328	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based leakage by plastic type	2019	PVC	63	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based leakage by plastic type	2019	Total	3,943	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based leakage by plastic type	2020	HDPE	105.73	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based leakage by plastic type	2020	LDPE	511.38	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based leakage by plastic type	2020	Other	2,371.32	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based leakage by plastic type	2020	PET	476.85	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based leakage by plastic type	2020	PP	366.81	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based leakage by plastic type	2020	PS	353.86	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based leakage by plastic type	2020	PVC	67.97	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based leakage by plastic type	2020	Total	4,253.92	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based leakage by plastic type	2021	HDPE	113.46	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based leakage by plastic type	2021	LDPE	548.75	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based leakage by plastic type	2021	Other	2,544.64	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based leakage by plastic type	2021	PET	511.71	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based leakage by plastic type	2021	PP	393.62	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based leakage by plastic type	2021	PS	379.73	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based leakage by plastic type	2021	PVC	72.94	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based leakage by plastic type	2021	Total	4,564.84	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based leakage by plastic type	2022	HDPE	121.18	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based leakage by plastic type	2022	LDPE	586.13	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based leakage by plastic type	2022	Other	2,717.96	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based leakage by plastic type	2022	PET	546.56	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based leakage by plastic type	2022	PP	420.43	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based leakage by plastic type	2022	PS	405.59	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based leakage by plastic type	2022	PVC	77.9	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based leakage by plastic type	2022	Total	4,875.76	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based leakage by plastic type	2023	HDPE	128.91	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based leakage by plastic type	2023	LDPE	623.51	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based leakage by plastic type	2023	Other	2,891.28	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based leakage by plastic type	2023	PET	581.41	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based leakage by plastic type	2023	PP	447.24	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based leakage by plastic type	2023	PS	431.46	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based leakage by plastic type	2023	PVC	82.87	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based leakage by plastic type	2023	Total	5,186.68	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based leakage by plastic type	2024	HDPE	136.64	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based leakage by plastic type	2024	LDPE	660.88	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based leakage by plastic type	2024	Other	3,064.6	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based leakage by plastic type	2024	PET	616.27	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based leakage by plastic type	2024	PP	474.05	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based leakage by plastic type	2024	PS	457.32	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based leakage by plastic type	2024	PVC	87.84	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Study-based leakage by plastic type	2024	Total	5,497.61	tonnes	modelled	IUCN Plastic Waste Free Islands leakage studies APWC / IUCN Provenance notes Fiji leakage estimates for 2019 and 2022, extrapolated between years.
Inventory-based plastic leakage estimate	2015	Total	599.98	tonnes	modelled	Inventory lifecycle leakage model MECC / UNSW Centre for Sustainable Development Reform Provenance notes Applies conservative placeholder leakage rates to formal collection, household self-haul, landfill and dumpsite flows.
Inventory-based plastic leakage estimate	2016	Total	613.95	tonnes	modelled	Inventory lifecycle leakage model MECC / UNSW Centre for Sustainable Development Reform Provenance notes Applies conservative placeholder leakage rates to formal collection, household self-haul, landfill and dumpsite flows.
Inventory-based plastic leakage estimate	2017	Total	627.63	tonnes	modelled	Inventory lifecycle leakage model MECC / UNSW Centre for Sustainable Development Reform Provenance notes Applies conservative placeholder leakage rates to formal collection, household self-haul, landfill and dumpsite flows.
Inventory-based plastic leakage estimate	2018	Total	640.79	tonnes	modelled	Inventory lifecycle leakage model MECC / UNSW Centre for Sustainable Development Reform Provenance notes Applies conservative placeholder leakage rates to formal collection, household self-haul, landfill and dumpsite flows.
Inventory-based plastic leakage estimate	2019	Total	653.73	tonnes	modelled	Inventory lifecycle leakage model MECC / UNSW Centre for Sustainable Development Reform Provenance notes Applies conservative placeholder leakage rates to formal collection, household self-haul, landfill and dumpsite flows.
Inventory-based plastic leakage estimate	2020	Total	683.84	tonnes	modelled	Inventory lifecycle leakage model MECC / UNSW Centre for Sustainable Development Reform Provenance notes Applies conservative placeholder leakage rates to formal collection, household self-haul, landfill and dumpsite flows.
Inventory-based plastic leakage estimate	2021	Total	700.72	tonnes	modelled	Inventory lifecycle leakage model MECC / UNSW Centre for Sustainable Development Reform Provenance notes Applies conservative placeholder leakage rates to formal collection, household self-haul, landfill and dumpsite flows.
Inventory-based plastic leakage estimate	2022	Total	718.77	tonnes	modelled	Inventory lifecycle leakage model MECC / UNSW Centre for Sustainable Development Reform Provenance notes Applies conservative placeholder leakage rates to formal collection, household self-haul, landfill and dumpsite flows.
Inventory-based plastic leakage estimate	2023	Total	738.89	tonnes	modelled	Inventory lifecycle leakage model MECC / UNSW Centre for Sustainable Development Reform Provenance notes Applies conservative placeholder leakage rates to formal collection, household self-haul, landfill and dumpsite flows.
Inventory-based plastic leakage estimate	2024	Total	759.48	tonnes	modelled	Inventory lifecycle leakage model MECC / UNSW Centre for Sustainable Development Reform Provenance notes Applies conservative placeholder leakage rates to formal collection, household self-haul, landfill and dumpsite flows.
Inventory-based leakage by lifecycle stage	2015	Plastic Waste Collected (Formal)	475.88	tonnes	modelled	Inventory lifecycle leakage model MECC / UNSW Centre for Sustainable Development Reform Provenance notes Applies conservative placeholder leakage rates to formal collection, household self-haul, landfill and dumpsite flows.
Inventory-based leakage by lifecycle stage	2015	Plastic Waste Collected (Informal) > Self Haul by Households	14.46	tonnes	modelled	Inventory lifecycle leakage model MECC / UNSW Centre for Sustainable Development Reform Provenance notes Applies conservative placeholder leakage rates to formal collection, household self-haul, landfill and dumpsite flows.
Inventory-based leakage by lifecycle stage	2015	Plastic Waste to Dumpsites	53.71	tonnes	modelled	Inventory lifecycle leakage model MECC / UNSW Centre for Sustainable Development Reform Provenance notes Applies conservative placeholder leakage rates to formal collection, household self-haul, landfill and dumpsite flows.
Inventory-based leakage by lifecycle stage	2015	Plastic Waste to Landfill	55.93	tonnes	modelled	Inventory lifecycle leakage model MECC / UNSW Centre for Sustainable Development Reform Provenance notes Applies conservative placeholder leakage rates to formal collection, household self-haul, landfill and dumpsite flows.
Inventory-based leakage by lifecycle stage	2015	Total	599.98	tonnes	modelled	Inventory lifecycle leakage model MECC / UNSW Centre for Sustainable Development Reform Provenance notes Applies conservative placeholder leakage rates to formal collection, household self-haul, landfill and dumpsite flows.
Inventory-based leakage by lifecycle stage	2016	Plastic Waste Collected (Formal)	486.96	tonnes	modelled	Inventory lifecycle leakage model MECC / UNSW Centre for Sustainable Development Reform Provenance notes Applies conservative placeholder leakage rates to formal collection, household self-haul, landfill and dumpsite flows.
Inventory-based leakage by lifecycle stage	2016	Plastic Waste Collected (Informal) > Self Haul by Households	14.8	tonnes	modelled	Inventory lifecycle leakage model MECC / UNSW Centre for Sustainable Development Reform Provenance notes Applies conservative placeholder leakage rates to formal collection, household self-haul, landfill and dumpsite flows.
Inventory-based leakage by lifecycle stage	2016	Plastic Waste to Dumpsites	55.31	tonnes	modelled	Inventory lifecycle leakage model MECC / UNSW Centre for Sustainable Development Reform Provenance notes Applies conservative placeholder leakage rates to formal collection, household self-haul, landfill and dumpsite flows.
Inventory-based leakage by lifecycle stage	2016	Plastic Waste to Landfill	56.88	tonnes	modelled	Inventory lifecycle leakage model MECC / UNSW Centre for Sustainable Development Reform Provenance notes Applies conservative placeholder leakage rates to formal collection, household self-haul, landfill and dumpsite flows.
Inventory-based leakage by lifecycle stage	2016	Total	613.95	tonnes	modelled	Inventory lifecycle leakage model MECC / UNSW Centre for Sustainable Development Reform Provenance notes Applies conservative placeholder leakage rates to formal collection, household self-haul, landfill and dumpsite flows.
Inventory-based leakage by lifecycle stage	2017	Plastic Waste Collected (Formal)	497.81	tonnes	modelled	Inventory lifecycle leakage model MECC / UNSW Centre for Sustainable Development Reform Provenance notes Applies conservative placeholder leakage rates to formal collection, household self-haul, landfill and dumpsite flows.
Inventory-based leakage by lifecycle stage	2017	Plastic Waste Collected (Informal) > Self Haul by Households	15.13	tonnes	modelled	Inventory lifecycle leakage model MECC / UNSW Centre for Sustainable Development Reform Provenance notes Applies conservative placeholder leakage rates to formal collection, household self-haul, landfill and dumpsite flows.
Inventory-based leakage by lifecycle stage	2017	Plastic Waste to Dumpsites	56.86	tonnes	modelled	Inventory lifecycle leakage model MECC / UNSW Centre for Sustainable Development Reform Provenance notes Applies conservative placeholder leakage rates to formal collection, household self-haul, landfill and dumpsite flows.
Inventory-based leakage by lifecycle stage	2017	Plastic Waste to Landfill	57.83	tonnes	modelled	Inventory lifecycle leakage model MECC / UNSW Centre for Sustainable Development Reform Provenance notes Applies conservative placeholder leakage rates to formal collection, household self-haul, landfill and dumpsite flows.
Inventory-based leakage by lifecycle stage	2017	Total	627.63	tonnes	modelled	Inventory lifecycle leakage model MECC / UNSW Centre for Sustainable Development Reform Provenance notes Applies conservative placeholder leakage rates to formal collection, household self-haul, landfill and dumpsite flows.
Inventory-based leakage by lifecycle stage	2018	Plastic Waste Collected (Formal)	508.25	tonnes	modelled	Inventory lifecycle leakage model MECC / UNSW Centre for Sustainable Development Reform Provenance notes Applies conservative placeholder leakage rates to formal collection, household self-haul, landfill and dumpsite flows.
Inventory-based leakage by lifecycle stage	2018	Plastic Waste Collected (Informal) > Self Haul by Households	15.44	tonnes	modelled	Inventory lifecycle leakage model MECC / UNSW Centre for Sustainable Development Reform Provenance notes Applies conservative placeholder leakage rates to formal collection, household self-haul, landfill and dumpsite flows.
Inventory-based leakage by lifecycle stage	2018	Plastic Waste to Dumpsites	58.32	tonnes	modelled	Inventory lifecycle leakage model MECC / UNSW Centre for Sustainable Development Reform Provenance notes Applies conservative placeholder leakage rates to formal collection, household self-haul, landfill and dumpsite flows.
Inventory-based leakage by lifecycle stage	2018	Plastic Waste to Landfill	58.78	tonnes	modelled	Inventory lifecycle leakage model MECC / UNSW Centre for Sustainable Development Reform Provenance notes Applies conservative placeholder leakage rates to formal collection, household self-haul, landfill and dumpsite flows.
Inventory-based leakage by lifecycle stage	2018	Total	640.79	tonnes	modelled	Inventory lifecycle leakage model MECC / UNSW Centre for Sustainable Development Reform Provenance notes Applies conservative placeholder leakage rates to formal collection, household self-haul, landfill and dumpsite flows.
Inventory-based leakage by lifecycle stage	2019	Plastic Waste Collected (Formal)	518.51	tonnes	modelled	Inventory lifecycle leakage model MECC / UNSW Centre for Sustainable Development Reform Provenance notes Applies conservative placeholder leakage rates to formal collection, household self-haul, landfill and dumpsite flows.
Inventory-based leakage by lifecycle stage	2019	Plastic Waste Collected (Informal) > Self Haul by Households	15.76	tonnes	modelled	Inventory lifecycle leakage model MECC / UNSW Centre for Sustainable Development Reform Provenance notes Applies conservative placeholder leakage rates to formal collection, household self-haul, landfill and dumpsite flows.
Inventory-based leakage by lifecycle stage	2019	Plastic Waste to Dumpsites	59.74	tonnes	modelled	Inventory lifecycle leakage model MECC / UNSW Centre for Sustainable Development Reform Provenance notes Applies conservative placeholder leakage rates to formal collection, household self-haul, landfill and dumpsite flows.
Inventory-based leakage by lifecycle stage	2019	Plastic Waste to Landfill	59.72	tonnes	modelled	Inventory lifecycle leakage model MECC / UNSW Centre for Sustainable Development Reform Provenance notes Applies conservative placeholder leakage rates to formal collection, household self-haul, landfill and dumpsite flows.
Inventory-based leakage by lifecycle stage	2019	Total	653.73	tonnes	modelled	Inventory lifecycle leakage model MECC / UNSW Centre for Sustainable Development Reform Provenance notes Applies conservative placeholder leakage rates to formal collection, household self-haul, landfill and dumpsite flows.
Inventory-based leakage by lifecycle stage	2020	Plastic Waste Collected (Formal)	542.4	tonnes	modelled	Inventory lifecycle leakage model MECC / UNSW Centre for Sustainable Development Reform Provenance notes Applies conservative placeholder leakage rates to formal collection, household self-haul, landfill and dumpsite flows.
Inventory-based leakage by lifecycle stage	2020	Plastic Waste Collected (Informal) > Self Haul by Households	16.48	tonnes	modelled	Inventory lifecycle leakage model MECC / UNSW Centre for Sustainable Development Reform Provenance notes Applies conservative placeholder leakage rates to formal collection, household self-haul, landfill and dumpsite flows.
Inventory-based leakage by lifecycle stage	2020	Plastic Waste to Dumpsites	64.29	tonnes	modelled	Inventory lifecycle leakage model MECC / UNSW Centre for Sustainable Development Reform Provenance notes Applies conservative placeholder leakage rates to formal collection, household self-haul, landfill and dumpsite flows.
Inventory-based leakage by lifecycle stage	2020	Plastic Waste to Landfill	60.67	tonnes	modelled	Inventory lifecycle leakage model MECC / UNSW Centre for Sustainable Development Reform Provenance notes Applies conservative placeholder leakage rates to formal collection, household self-haul, landfill and dumpsite flows.
Inventory-based leakage by lifecycle stage	2020	Total	683.84	tonnes	modelled	Inventory lifecycle leakage model MECC / UNSW Centre for Sustainable Development Reform Provenance notes Applies conservative placeholder leakage rates to formal collection, household self-haul, landfill and dumpsite flows.
Inventory-based leakage by lifecycle stage	2021	Plastic Waste Collected (Formal)	555.79	tonnes	modelled	Inventory lifecycle leakage model MECC / UNSW Centre for Sustainable Development Reform Provenance notes Applies conservative placeholder leakage rates to formal collection, household self-haul, landfill and dumpsite flows.
Inventory-based leakage by lifecycle stage	2021	Plastic Waste Collected (Informal) > Self Haul by Households	16.89	tonnes	modelled	Inventory lifecycle leakage model MECC / UNSW Centre for Sustainable Development Reform Provenance notes Applies conservative placeholder leakage rates to formal collection, household self-haul, landfill and dumpsite flows.
Inventory-based leakage by lifecycle stage	2021	Plastic Waste to Dumpsites	66.43	tonnes	modelled	Inventory lifecycle leakage model MECC / UNSW Centre for Sustainable Development Reform Provenance notes Applies conservative placeholder leakage rates to formal collection, household self-haul, landfill and dumpsite flows.
Inventory-based leakage by lifecycle stage	2021	Plastic Waste to Landfill	61.62	tonnes	modelled	Inventory lifecycle leakage model MECC / UNSW Centre for Sustainable Development Reform Provenance notes Applies conservative placeholder leakage rates to formal collection, household self-haul, landfill and dumpsite flows.
Inventory-based leakage by lifecycle stage	2021	Total	700.72	tonnes	modelled	Inventory lifecycle leakage model MECC / UNSW Centre for Sustainable Development Reform Provenance notes Applies conservative placeholder leakage rates to formal collection, household self-haul, landfill and dumpsite flows.
Inventory-based leakage by lifecycle stage	2022	Plastic Waste Collected (Formal)	570.11	tonnes	modelled	Inventory lifecycle leakage model MECC / UNSW Centre for Sustainable Development Reform Provenance notes Applies conservative placeholder leakage rates to formal collection, household self-haul, landfill and dumpsite flows.
Inventory-based leakage by lifecycle stage	2022	Plastic Waste Collected (Informal) > Self Haul by Households	17.32	tonnes	modelled	Inventory lifecycle leakage model MECC / UNSW Centre for Sustainable Development Reform Provenance notes Applies conservative placeholder leakage rates to formal collection, household self-haul, landfill and dumpsite flows.
Inventory-based leakage by lifecycle stage	2022	Plastic Waste to Dumpsites	68.15	tonnes	modelled	Inventory lifecycle leakage model MECC / UNSW Centre for Sustainable Development Reform Provenance notes Applies conservative placeholder leakage rates to formal collection, household self-haul, landfill and dumpsite flows.
Inventory-based leakage by lifecycle stage	2022	Plastic Waste to Landfill	63.2	tonnes	modelled	Inventory lifecycle leakage model MECC / UNSW Centre for Sustainable Development Reform Provenance notes Applies conservative placeholder leakage rates to formal collection, household self-haul, landfill and dumpsite flows.
Inventory-based leakage by lifecycle stage	2022	Total	718.77	tonnes	modelled	Inventory lifecycle leakage model MECC / UNSW Centre for Sustainable Development Reform Provenance notes Applies conservative placeholder leakage rates to formal collection, household self-haul, landfill and dumpsite flows.
Inventory-based leakage by lifecycle stage	2023	Plastic Waste Collected (Formal)	586.06	tonnes	modelled	Inventory lifecycle leakage model MECC / UNSW Centre for Sustainable Development Reform Provenance notes Applies conservative placeholder leakage rates to formal collection, household self-haul, landfill and dumpsite flows.
Inventory-based leakage by lifecycle stage	2023	Plastic Waste Collected (Informal) > Self Haul by Households	17.81	tonnes	modelled	Inventory lifecycle leakage model MECC / UNSW Centre for Sustainable Development Reform Provenance notes Applies conservative placeholder leakage rates to formal collection, household self-haul, landfill and dumpsite flows.
Inventory-based leakage by lifecycle stage	2023	Plastic Waste to Dumpsites	60.76	tonnes	modelled	Inventory lifecycle leakage model MECC / UNSW Centre for Sustainable Development Reform Provenance notes Applies conservative placeholder leakage rates to formal collection, household self-haul, landfill and dumpsite flows.
Inventory-based leakage by lifecycle stage	2023	Plastic Waste to Landfill	74.26	tonnes	modelled	Inventory lifecycle leakage model MECC / UNSW Centre for Sustainable Development Reform Provenance notes Applies conservative placeholder leakage rates to formal collection, household self-haul, landfill and dumpsite flows.
Inventory-based leakage by lifecycle stage	2023	Total	738.89	tonnes	modelled	Inventory lifecycle leakage model MECC / UNSW Centre for Sustainable Development Reform Provenance notes Applies conservative placeholder leakage rates to formal collection, household self-haul, landfill and dumpsite flows.
Inventory-based leakage by lifecycle stage	2024	Plastic Waste Collected (Formal)	602.4	tonnes	modelled	Inventory lifecycle leakage model MECC / UNSW Centre for Sustainable Development Reform Provenance notes Applies conservative placeholder leakage rates to formal collection, household self-haul, landfill and dumpsite flows.
Inventory-based leakage by lifecycle stage	2024	Plastic Waste Collected (Informal) > Self Haul by Households	18.31	tonnes	modelled	Inventory lifecycle leakage model MECC / UNSW Centre for Sustainable Development Reform Provenance notes Applies conservative placeholder leakage rates to formal collection, household self-haul, landfill and dumpsite flows.
Inventory-based leakage by lifecycle stage	2024	Plastic Waste to Dumpsites	62.53	tonnes	modelled	Inventory lifecycle leakage model MECC / UNSW Centre for Sustainable Development Reform Provenance notes Applies conservative placeholder leakage rates to formal collection, household self-haul, landfill and dumpsite flows.
Inventory-based leakage by lifecycle stage	2024	Plastic Waste to Landfill	76.26	tonnes	modelled	Inventory lifecycle leakage model MECC / UNSW Centre for Sustainable Development Reform Provenance notes Applies conservative placeholder leakage rates to formal collection, household self-haul, landfill and dumpsite flows.
Inventory-based leakage by lifecycle stage	2024	Total	759.48	tonnes	modelled	Inventory lifecycle leakage model MECC / UNSW Centre for Sustainable Development Reform Provenance notes Applies conservative placeholder leakage rates to formal collection, household self-haul, landfill and dumpsite flows.

Method and limitations

Plastic leakage to the environment · version 1

Plastic leakage to the environment

This page presents two indicative estimates of accidental plastic loss across the waste system.

How it is produced

The study series extrapolates between IUCN estimates for 2019 and 2022. The inventory series applies conservative placeholder loss rates to formal collection, household self-haul, landfill and dumpsite flows.

Read with care

The two methods have different boundaries and produce very different totals. Neither is a direct national measurement. They should be compared, not added, and the assumed rates should be replaced by field studies.