And, the UK's Confederation of Paper Industries (CPI) has followed on from the ERPA comments, saying: “The CPI does not support illegal activities.”
The exports of the materials threaten the reputation and operation of the whole recovered paper sector, the organisation has warned. Its concerns centre on the fact that it fears the exports could lead to restrictions being imposed by the recipient countries and encourage tougher international legislation from the EU or under the Basel Convention.
”We have no detailed information as to the background to the claims.“
– Peter Seggie – CPI
Dutch
The comments come in the wake of action by Dutch and Irish authorities over the alleged illegal shipment of comingled materials. (see letsrecycle.com story)
ERPA is also concerned that the exports are failing to meet the requirements of the List of Standard Grades of Recovered Paper and Board. (see letsrecycle.com recovered paper specifications) The association says there have been illegal exports from both the UK and the Republic of Ireland. But, the UK's Confederation of Paper Industries was unable to shed any light on the UK situation.
Clarification
Peter Seggie, CPI recovered paper sector manager told letsrecycle.com: “The CPI cannot comment directly on this ERPA press release as we have no detailed information as to the background to the claims. We have sought clarification from ERPA. The CPI does not support illegal activities.”
”All recovered paper should meet the requirements of the standard grades lists “
– Martin Kleiweg – ERPA
The ERPA statement says that at a meeting of its general assembly in March, member federations “unanimously agreed that exports of co-mingled paper from EU member-states to non-OECD countries should be shipped according to the EU procedures (requiring written notification and agreement by the relevant authorities on both ends of the shipment and often in transit countries) as defined in the EU shipment regulations and not green list conditions as it is currently being done by some waste management companies.”
Grade lists
ERPA president Maarten Kleiweg de Zwaan, stressed that all recovered paper should meet the requirements of the standard grades lists and EN643.
The association argues that the first step in recycling is the separation of materials such a paper, plastic bottles, glass, cardboard and metal packaging is for this to happen as close as possible to where the material is collected.
“Exports of so-called co-mingled household or packaging wastes cannot be supported. Considering that a considerable amount of food residues are very likely to remain in such packaging waste, health and environmental issues will probably arise when exporting such mixed materials,” the ERPA statement said.
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