The policies and regulations related to plastic production, recycling and reuse were reviewed and analyzed in many countries around the world, especially in European and American countries and Asia Pacific countries such as China, Japan and South Korea, while the identification technology of recycled plastics composition and content was summarized. The results show that developed countries and large developing countries have relatively good control over the plastics, with both short-term planning and long-term goals. The identification techniques and methods of recycled plastics are rapidly developing and improving. In the near future, efficient recovery and recycling of plastics are expected to be realized, with easy, fast and accurate identification methods for recycled plastics developed.