Us Plastic Export: Understanding The Environmental Impact

The United States has been exporting plastic waste to other countries for decades. In 2021, the US exported 1.21 billion pounds of scrap plastic, with India, Mexico, El Salvador, Indonesia, and Canada being the top five recipients. While the US has seen a years-long decline in plastic exports, it still ships more than 1 million tons of plastic waste annually, often to poorer countries with poor waste management. This has led to environmental and social issues, with US plastic waste contributing to plastic pollution and overwhelming local waste management systems in these countries.

The US exported 920 million pounds of scrap plastic in 2023

The United States exported a substantial amount of scrap plastic in 2023, with a total volume of 920 million pounds. This figure represents a notable decrease of 4.6% compared to the previous year and an even more significant drop of nearly 80% when contrasted with the export volume from 2015. The top destinations for these plastic scrap exports were neighbouring countries Canada and Mexico, which together accounted for more than half of the total exports. Other leading recipients included Asian nations such as India, Malaysia, and Vietnam, which formed the second-largest group of importers of US plastic scrap.

The pattern of US plastic scrap exports has undergone a noticeable shift since China's implementation of the National Sword policy and the subsequent ban on recovered plastic imports in 2018. Prior to these developments, China had been the primary destination for US plastic waste exports. The changing landscape of the plastic waste trade has led to a redistribution of export flows, with various countries in Asia and North America emerging as new hotspots.

Despite the overall decline in export volume, certain countries have witnessed a notable increase in the amount of scrap plastic they receive from the US. India, for instance, imported 110% more in 2021 compared to the previous year, while El Salvador and Mexico also experienced substantial rises of 77% and 34%, respectively. Canada, the leading destination, saw a more modest increase of 2%. On the other hand, several countries significantly reduced the amount of US plastic scrap they imported, including Hong Kong, which decreased its imports by 72%, and Vietnam, which saw a 31% drop.

The export of plastic scrap from the US has been a contentious issue, with concerns raised about the environmental and social implications of these practices. While the trade in plastic waste can provide economic benefits, particularly for low-income nations, there are risks associated with improper disposal and recycling methods. Some countries with poor waste management systems have become overwhelmed by the influx of plastic waste, leading to adverse effects on the environment and public health.

China banned US plastic waste imports in 2018

The United States exported approximately 920 million pounds of scrap plastic in 2023, a decrease of 4.6% compared to 2022. This figure represents a nearly 80% drop when compared to 2015. In 2023, Canada and Mexico were the leading destinations for US plastic scrap exports, accounting for more than half of exports. Asian countries such as India, Malaysia, and Vietnam received the second-largest share.

Up until 2017, China was the primary destination for US plastic waste. However, in 2018, China implemented a total ban on recovered plastic imports, significantly impacting the global trade of plastic waste. The ban, known as the "National Sword" policy, was enacted to address the issue of contaminated materials overwhelming Chinese recycling facilities.

The repercussions of China's ban were significant, causing a major global shift in the processing of recycled materials. Countries like the United States, which had exported around 4,000 shipping containers of garbage to China daily before the ban, were forced to reroute their waste to other nations, primarily in Southeast Asia. This sudden change disrupted global recycling programs and presented challenges for countries highly dependent on China for waste management.

The ban's impact continued to be felt in 2019, with trade flows to China from several countries decreasing significantly. The export flows of the USA, UK, and Republic of Korea fell to 60%, 37%, and 46% of their 2018 levels, respectively. The ban also contributed to a decrease in plastic exports from Japan and Europe.

While the ban initially caused disruptions, experts believe it could lead to positive outcomes in the long term. It offers an opportunity to develop better solutions for managing waste, such as expanding processing capacities in North America and Europe, and encouraging manufacturers to make products more easily recyclable. Additionally, it highlights the need to reduce the use of single-use plastics and improve recycling infrastructure.

India, Mexico, and Canada are top importers of US scrap plastic

The United States exported about 920 million pounds of scrap plastic in 2023, a decrease of 4.6% compared to 2022. This figure represents an almost 80% drop when contrasted with 2015 export levels. The top importers of US scrap plastic in 2023 were Canada and Mexico, which together accounted for over half of exports that year. Asian countries such as India, Malaysia, and Vietnam received the second-largest share of US scrap plastic exports.

Up until 2017, China was the primary destination for US plastic waste. However, a total ban on recovered plastic imports imposed by China in January 2018 led to a shift in the flow of US scrap plastic exports. Despite this overall decrease in exports, some countries, such as India, Mexico, and El Salvador, have been importing significantly more US scrap plastic in recent years.

In 2021, India imported 110% more US scrap plastic compared to the previous year, while Mexico's imports increased by 34%. During the same period, other countries, such as Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Vietnam, significantly reduced the amount of US scrap plastic they imported. This shift in trade patterns may be attributed to various factors, including regulatory changes, such as the Basel Convention amendment, and the National Sword campaign in China, which targeted the import of certain materials, including plastics.

India's imports of US scrap plastic have continued to grow, and in Q1 2024, India was the largest destination for US PET bale sales, constituting 25% of the total volume. Mexico has also emerged as a significant importer of US scrap plastic, with exports to the country accelerating in recent years. In Q1 2024, exports of PET scrap to Mexico increased by 38% year-on-year, making up 61% of all US PET scrap exports.

Canada, the leading importer of US scrap plastic in 2023, has seen a mixed trend in its imports. While its imports from the US decreased by 40% quarter-on-quarter in Q1 2024, it remains one of the top destinations for US scrap plastic exports, especially for PE scrap. Overall, the trade in US scrap plastic is influenced by various factors, including regulatory changes, global demand for recycled plastics, and cost-competitive positions of importing countries.

Basel Convention amendment regulates global trade in plastics

The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal is a global treaty that governs the classification and cross-border movement of hazardous and other wastes. It informs national waste legislation worldwide and includes several trade bans, including a ban on trade in covered wastes between parties and non-parties.

In May 2019, the parties to the convention adopted amendments that would dramatically expand the convention's international controls and trade bans applicable to plastic wastes shipped across borders for recycling. These amendments came into effect on 1 January 2021 and are legally binding on the 187 parties to the agreement. They bring more plastics within the regulatory scope of the convention, moving most plastic scrap from a category that could be traded freely to two new categories subject to Basel Convention requirements and one new category that is not. The first new category covers shipments of most non-hazardous plastic scrap and waste, including contaminated or mixed shipments, while the second covers plastic waste classified as hazardous.

The United States is not a party to the Basel Convention, but the new provisions will still significantly impact its exports and imports of plastic recyclables as many of its trading partners are implementing the Basel plastic scrap and waste amendments. The US has an agreement with member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) that addresses trade in non-hazardous plastic scrap, but there is uncertainty about what requirements these countries will impose. The Basel Convention amendments could also pose challenges for countries that lack adequate national recycling infrastructure for managing plastic wastes.

Despite the new rules, data shows that American exporters continue to ship plastic waste overseas, particularly to poorer countries. In 2021, the US exported 1.21 billion pounds of scrap plastics, with India, El Salvador, Mexico, Indonesia, and Canada receiving considerably more than the year before. However, the US exported less plastic scrap in 2023 than in 2022, with Canada and Mexico being the leading destinations, followed by India, Malaysia, and Vietnam.

US plastic waste exports are sent to poorly regulated developing countries

The United States exported around 920 million pounds of scrap plastic in 2023, a decrease from 1.21 billion pounds in 2021. The US's top destinations for scrap plastic exports in 2021 were India, Mexico, Canada, El Salvador, Indonesia, and other developing countries. In 2023, Canada and Mexico were the leading destinations, followed by Asian countries such as India, Malaysia, and Vietnam.

Despite international agreements to curb the trade in plastic waste, the US continues to export large quantities of plastic waste to poorer countries. In 2021, 187 countries agreed to place strict limits on exports of plastic waste from richer to poorer countries. However, data shows that American exporters have largely ignored these new rules, and exports of plastic scrap to poorer countries have barely changed.

The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, which the US has not ratified, aims to regulate the global trade in plastics and ban shipments of certain types of materials. The US has negotiated an agreement with Canada that allows the two countries to continue trading plastic waste without the additional Basel controls. The US has also signed separate agreements with member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) regarding the trade of non-hazardous plastic scrap.

Environmental watchdog groups have expressed concern that a large amount of plastic scrap exported from the US ends up as waste rather than being recycled. When plastic waste is shipped to countries with insufficient waste management infrastructure, it can cause long-lasting damage to people and the environment. For example, plastic that is not recycled may be incinerated, releasing hazardous chemicals that poison communities and the food chain.

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