Number: 2019/06
Status: Ongoing
Period: 2019 – 2020
Terms of Reference
Plastics and the Chinese Ban (2019)
Project description and aims
In the beginning of 2018, China – as part of an environmental reform movement designed to deal with its own growing waste problems – acted on its import ban on 24 types of recyclable materials, including recycled plastics. Having imported about 45% of all plastic waste in the last 25 years, China refused to buy any recycled plastic scrap that wasn’t 99.5% pure. Consequently, the global market for trade and treatment of plastic waste has changed and has been affected in many ways by the Chinese ban and that is why it is important to follow up on what happens in the market, and how to prevent that hazardous or unrecyclable plastic waste gets classified as green listed, or even as by-products or commodities, when it can be hazardous and sent to countries with less treatment facilities and knowledge about the recycling of plastics.
This project is an opportunity to gather more information about plastic waste and its classification, which will be useful for exporters, inspectors, advisers and stakeholders.
Expected outcomes:
- Overview / statistics showing the changes in the waste plastic market.
- Final report with statistics, best practices and recommendations.
Lead country and contact
Ireland
Brian White