Agency action “ongoing” over exports of recyclables

The Agency said that it was unable to release any details of its activities because “our investigations are on going and at this stage due to the very nature of these investigations we are unable to release details.”

” Operators should know what is in their waste and assess that it is as described on the Green list.“
– Environment Agency spokesman
The investigations follow the return of some containers of recyclables to the UK, which were deemed contrary to export regulations. Generally speaking, these exports use a traffic light coding system. They are seen as allowing material of a specific grade, such as used cardboard, to be sent abroad for recycling under a “green list” code. Mixed material or material which needs special care will be coded as “amber” and material which cannot be sent is coded “red”.

The Agency confirmed this week that mixed paper waste, which perhaps contains some cans and plastic bottles, generally cannot still be classified as green list waste.

A spokesman explained: “To be classified as Green list waste under the Waste Shipments Regulation the waste must generally be of one type such as plastic or paper. If other materials are mixed with it, its classification may be affected. Operators should know what is in their waste and assess that it is as described on the Green list.

“They can also seek advice from the Environment Agency on this matter. They would then have to judge whether any remaining items as contaminants increased the risks associated with it sufficient to make it amber or red list or prevent the recovery of the waste.”

On mixed waste from household sources, the spokesman commented that this “is more likely to be classified as municipal waste (amber list). It matters also if the waste is being sent for recovery or disposal – exports for disposal from the UK are banned.”

Costs
One issue raised by some observers of the export market concerns the additional costs faced by exporters of amber listed material.

The Agency spokesman explained that “the controls on exports of waste depend on its classification as green, amber or red list waste but also on the country to which it is being exported.”

The situation can be complicated as some countries receiving green waste have their own double-check system and require notification that they are receiving certain materials.

The spokesman explained: “For example, exports of some green list waste to countries (like plastics to India or to Malaysia) would need a notification. Where notification is required a fee of 1,000 per application plus 90 per shipment (that is any amount of waste moved at the same time via the same route).”

With regards to recyclable exports returned to the UK, because they are deemed in breach of the rules, the spokesman said that what happens to the material “is a decision for the operators”.

“We expect it to be handled in a compliant manner whether it is, for example reprocessed for export or recovered in the UK,” the Agency spokesman said.