The UK’s largest investigation into household plastic waste will return from 9-15 March 2026.
The UK’s largest investigation into household plastic waste will return from 9-15 March 2026, as researchers from the Revolution Plastics Institute at the University of Portsmouth join the campaign to help analyse results and strengthen the evidence base for action on plastic pollution.
The Big Plastic Count, led by the charity Everyday Plastic, invites households, schools, community groups and businesses across the UK to count every piece of plastic waste they throw away over one week and submit their findings online. Organisers hope the results will help inform government policy and business decisions at a time of growing concern over plastic production, waste and disposal.
This year, the Revolution Plastics Institute is supporting the campaign as an academic partner, carrying out an in-depth follow-up survey and analysing data to better understand how plastic is used, discarded and managed in UK homes.
With plastic production set to triple by 2060, there is an urgent need for action. The Big Plastic Count is back in March 2026 because we must keep pushing for real change. We’re gathering vital evidence to show the true scale of the crisis - and to tell the government we need them to commit to producing less plastic.
The Big Plastic Count comes amid mounting evidence that much of the UK’s plastic waste is not recycled, but instead burned, exported overseas or sent to landfill - practices that contribute to climate change and air pollution, often affecting the most disadvantaged communities.
Daniel Webb, Founder of Everyday Plastic, said: “In previous years, The Big Plastic Count has shown that most household plastic isn’t recycled. The majority is burned in the UK, and the rest is sent overseas or to landfill. Burning plastic waste is a big problem. It accelerates the climate crisis and pollutes the air, harming the health of communities already facing inequality.
“With plastic production set to triple by 2060, there is an urgent need for action. The Big Plastic Count is back in March 2026 because we must keep pushing for real change. We’re gathering vital evidence to show the true scale of the crisis - and to tell the government we need them to commit to producing less plastic.”
The Big Plastic Count is the UK’s biggest investigation into household plastic waste. Its brief is simple - count your plastic waste for one week. Participants then receive a personalised snapshot of their plastic footprint, while their collective data provides one of the most detailed pictures of plastic consumption in the country.
We know that many people are concerned about plastic but feel powerless to avoid it altogether. Citizen science projects like The Big Plastic Count help bridge that gap by turning everyday experiences into data that can drive meaningful change - for individuals, businesses and policymakers alike.
The Revolution Plastics Institute previously partnered with The Big Plastic Count in 2024 to analyse survey data, producing research that revealed widespread underestimation of plastic use among UK households - a phenomenon researchers describe as “plastic blindness”. The research showed how making plastic waste visible can prompt behaviour change and increase public engagement with reuse, refill and policy solutions.
“We know that many people are concerned about plastic but feel powerless to avoid it altogether,” said Dr Kate Whitman, researcher at the Revolution Plastics Institute.
“Citizen science projects like The Big Plastic Count help bridge that gap by turning everyday experiences into data that can drive meaningful change - for individuals, businesses and policymakers alike.”
Research linked to previous Big Plastic Counts has also shown that participation can increase political engagement and public support for stronger national and international action on plastics.
“By inviting people to take part directly, The Big Plastic Count creates a powerful connection between personal behaviour and collective responsibility,” said Professor Cressida Bowyer, Co- Director of the Revolution Plastics Institute.
By inviting people to take part directly, The Big Plastic Count creates a powerful connection between personal behaviour and collective responsibility.
With the 2026 Count, organisers and researchers hope to build an even clearer picture of household plastic use across the UK, strengthening calls for measures such as reuse and refill systems, clearer labelling and policies that tackle plastic pollution upstream.
Sign-ups for The Big Plastic Count 2026 are now open.
Households, schools, community groups and businesses are encouraged to register and take part by counting their plastic waste from 9-15 March 2026.
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