BPF calls for stricter rules on waste plastic exports

The British Plastics Federation (BPF) and the European Plastics Converters (EuPC) have voiced concerns over the growing shipment of waste plastics to Asia, which they say is taking material away from domestic recyclers.

”There is a great deal of anecdotal evidence in the UK that plastics recyclers simply cannot source sufficient usable UK generated plastics waste. “
-Philip Law, the BPF's public and industrial Affairs director
Philip Law, the BPF's public and industrial Affairs director, said: “There is a great deal of anecdotal evidence in the UK that plastics recyclers simply cannot source sufficient usable UK generated plastics waste. Indeed some operations themselves are having to import waste such as bottles from abroad.”

The associations' concerns come in the wake of increased recycling targets in the revision of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive, which is expected to increase waste plastics exports to Asia (see letsrecycle.com story).

EuPC managing director Alexandre Dangis said that the amended Directive and the EU enlargement in May 2004 will increase the amount of waste plastics currently being sent to Asia for recycling, where some could end up in landfills instead of being recycled.

He said: “The EU Institutions have increased the plastics packaging recycling targets from 15% to 22.5% in the amended EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive but there is no requirement to verify that the conditions surrounding plastics recycling in Asia are comparable to those prevalent in Europe.”

Waste plastics should be kept inside the EU, Mr Dangis said, in order to encourage a sustainable domestic recycling industry. “It is feared that many recycling companies will become unviable simply because they cannot get sufficient access to EU-generated waste,” he warned.

Guidelines


EuPC and the BPF now want Member States and the European Commission to develop export guidelines to ensure the existing conditions and standards are met by the plastics recycling industry inside and outside the EU.

Mr Law said: “Whilst in the UK there are some controls on overseas recyclers who process packaging waste there are obviously difficulties in enforcement over distance. Most importantly the future implementation of Directives covering end-of-life vehicle and electrical and electronic waste can only exacerbate the situation.”