China Ban on Imports of Plastic Waste

This could mean more pollution in the UK.

The ban on the import of millions of tons of plastic waste, announced by the Chinese government, from January, could lead to the cessation of export of any plastic waste in the UK and increase the risk of environmental pollution. An analysis of data from Greenpeace data shows that UK companies have sent over 2.7 million tonnes of plastic waste to China and Hong Kong since 2012 – two-thirds of the UK’s total plastic waste exports. China’s dominance in manufacturing has meant that for many years it has been the world’s largest importer of recyclable materials. In 2016, China imported 7.3 million tonnes of waste plastics from developed countries, including the UK, USA and Japan. But this summer, the Chinese announced their intention to stop imports of 24 solid waste by the end of 2017, including PET beverage bottles, other plastic bottles and containers, and all mixed paper. The Chinese have also increased quality control for all other waste, including cardboard, which is likely to happen in other markets as well, putting the UK recycling industry at risk as well. At the moment, the country will not be able to cope with about a quarter of the plastic waste it produces, according to UK waste management officials. The association’s executive director, Simon Ellin, told the BBC that he has no idea how the issue will be addressed in the near future. „This is a huge blow to us … it is fundamentally changing the situation in our industry,” he says. „We have relied on China for so long to recycle our waste … 55% paper, over 25% plastic.”