China clamps down on imports of poor quality paper

Chinas London-based CCIC inspection agency has contacted exporters of material to China to remind them of the need to ensure that mixed paper sent to the country does not have contamination.

The action by CCIC comes after increasing awareness in China of the poorer material as well as tougher customs controls on the imports of overseas products ranging from scrap metal and waste paper through to live chickens.

One UK exporter explained that the situation had become more serious because some of the mills which chose to use lower grade material had closed and that the larger more modern mills did not want mixed papers with contaminants such as plastic and other contraries.

Others see the current crackdown as reflecting the weaker markets for exports with reduced prices and slower demand meaning that Chinese mills can be more choosy.

Two of the UK large exporters, ACN and Mark Lyndon (Lee & Man) have both this week emphasised the need for material to be of a better quality, especially that which is derived from materials recycling facilities which are seen as causing the greatest problems.

Concern

Paul Briggs of Nottinghamshire-based Mark Lyndon, which supplies Lee & Man Paper Manufacturing in China, told letsrecycle.com that the Chinese government is concerned about the quality of UK paper.

He said that some shipments of mixed paper contained so much rubbish inside the bales.
And, like many in the recovered paper sector, he noted that there were expectations that a large number of containers full of mixed paper were being returned to the UK.

He said: We (MLUK) know from our own quality inspections in China that UK mixed from MRFs is contaminated with other recyclables, far more than any other country we buy from. We only try to buy from the best of the best in MRFs but our mills do try to avoid UK soft mixed. Chinese customs inspectors are now limiting contamination to about 1-2% max although this is still officially to be confirmed.

We have yet to see a UK MRF produce mixed paper with such a low contamination level. Chinese mills have already started to cut back on orders for UK MRF tonnages, European MRF mixed is by and large clean and dry and for many months of the year it is cheaper. However, now that Chinese customs inspectors have intervened, the issue has been forced and the UK will be expected to match and maintain legal quality levels. We believe this level of enforcement is permanent and not just a temporary clampdown.

Intervention

Mr Briggs said there were many reasons that had lead to this issue, including previous low levels of intervention from Chinese customs authorities and a lack of enforcement by the UK authorities. And, he said that other Asian countries often have weaker controls than China and these could now be a destination for UK MRF generated mixed papers although it is doubtful that there countries could consume all the UK has to offer.

He urged the UK to produce material which was of a quality that is acceptable and legal, adding: It appears that commingled collections are here to stay so mixed producers need to positively pick either physically or mechanically. I know of suppliers who leave fines or put fines back into the mixed, this has to stop if suppliers want to continuously move their products. I am always amazed that companies spend a fortune on sorting systems then forget to add a roof for the stock, expecting the buyer to pay for a healthy dose of UK water along with the product. For the UK domestic recycling schemes to survive the collectors and sorters need to have a good rethink on quality and produce what the market requires.

Nick Watson, of Manchester-based ACN, which servces Chinas Nine Dragons Paper, said that the operators of most MRFs in the UK needed to improve the quality of material exported. This has been a major concern for China for the past six months and the market here in the UK has not listened to them. China is changing itself even if the exporters have got rid of the paper in the past. Port inspections are rising and standards at the mills are rising. Most mills in china are finding that the content of mixed paper from the Continent is much better.

Specification

One UK paper mill business told letsrecycle.com that the problem was arising because MRF operators are not running their MRFs to the proper specifications. They are running the belts too fast and would do well to consider remodelling to serve the present market.