Omar Khalid
Plastic pollution is one of the most pressing environmental issues facing our planet, with the concentration of microplastics in our oceans threatening biodiversity and the health of both marine life and humans. The global plastic crisis has led to a growing movement to recycle plastic waste, but the process of exporting recycled plastic is complex and often controversial. This is due in part to the varying capacities and regulations of different countries and the challenge of managing plastic waste in a sustainable and ethical manner. In this discussion, we will explore the key considerations and challenges associated with exporting recycled plastic, including the impact of international agreements and the responsibility of corporations and governments in addressing this critical global issue.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic scrap export destinations from the US in 2023 | Canada (154 thousand metric tons), Mexico (76.2 thousand tons), Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, Germany, and China |
| Plastic scrap export destinations from the US in the past | China |
| US agreements with other countries | The US has bilateral and multilateral agreements with a few countries, including member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) |
| Basel Convention | The US is not a party to the Basel Convention, but 187 countries and the European Commission are. The Basel Convention prohibits trade between countries that have ratified the convention and non-party countries. |
| US exports of recycled plastic pellets | Recycled plastic pellets can be exported from the US without a waste export license |
| Australian exports of recycled plastic pellets | Recycled plastic pellets can be exported from Australia without a waste export license |
| Requirements for export license | Evidence demonstrating that the flake is suitable for remanufacture into a range of plastic products and processed to a specification that requires the plastic to have minimal contamination, high polymer purity, and consistent size |
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What You'll Learn
- International requirements for the export and import of recycled plastic
- The Basel Convention and its impact on plastic exports
- The US's plastic waste exports and the countries that receive them
- The process of exporting recycled plastic from Australia
- The challenges of exporting recycled plastic from the US to Asia
International requirements for the export and import of recycled plastic
In May 2019, 187 countries, including the European Commission, decided to restrict international trade in plastic scrap and waste to address the improper disposal of plastic waste and reduce its leakage into the environment. This decision, known as the Basel Convention, controls transboundary shipments of most plastic scrap and waste, requiring the prior written consent of the importing country and any transit countries. The United States, however, is not a party to the Basel Convention, which has significant implications for its exports and imports due to the prohibition on trade between Convention countries and non-parties.
Under the Basel Convention, two main categories of plastic waste are defined for the purpose of international trade. The first category covers non-hazardous plastic scrap and waste, including contaminated, mixed, or unprocessed plastic scrap. The second category covers plastic waste classified as hazardous under the Convention. For exports falling under either category, the exporting country must obtain the importing country's written agreement to accept such exports before shipment, a procedure known as prior notice and consent.
In addition to the Basel Convention, individual countries and regional blocs have their own requirements and regulations for the export and import of recycled plastic. For example, the European Union (EU) has implemented new rules banning the export of plastic waste from the EU to non-OECD countries, except for clean, non-hazardous waste intended for recycling, which is subject to specific conditions. The EU's "prior notification and consent procedure" applies to exports of hazardous plastic waste and non-hazardous waste that is difficult to recycle, both within the EU and to third countries. Furthermore, exporters must demonstrate that the waste will be properly managed in the recipient country's facilities through independent audits, ensuring environmentally sound waste management.
Another example is Australia, which regulates the export of plastic waste under the Recycling and Waste Reduction Act 2020 (RaWR Act) and the Hazardous Waste (Regulation of Exports and Imports) Act 1989, implementing its obligations under the Basel Convention. As of July 2021, a licence is required to export sorted and processed waste plastics capable of remanufacture. However, recycled plastic pellets and plastic pellets made from waste plastic are exempt from certain regulations and do not require a licence for export.
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The Basel Convention and its impact on plastic exports
The Basel Convention is an international treaty that was designed to reduce the movements of hazardous waste between nations and restrict the transfer of hazardous waste from developed to less-developed countries. It was signed by 53 states and the European Economic Community (EEC) in 1989 and entered into force in 1992. The convention was created in response to a number of high-profile incidents of hazardous waste dumping, including the Khian Sea waste disposal incident, in which a ship carrying incinerator ash from the US dumped its load on a beach in Haiti.
The convention has three main entries on plastic wastes in Annex II, VIII, and IX of the Convention. In 2019, the Basel plastic scrap and waste amendments were adopted by 187 countries and the European Commission to control exports and imports of most plastic scrap and waste. These amendments came into effect on January 1, 2021, and moved most plastic scrap from one category, reserved for material that could generally be traded freely, to two new categories subject to Basel Convention requirements and one new category that is not subject to these requirements. The first of the two new categories covers shipments of most non-hazardous plastic scrap and waste, including contaminated shipments (e.g. with food residue) that could impede recycling. The second new category covers plastic waste classified as hazardous waste under the Basel Convention. Basel Party countries exporting plastic scrap and waste covered by either of these two new categories must obtain the importing country's agreement in writing to accept such exports before allowing shipments to depart, a procedure known as prior notice and consent. The third category of material is not subject to prior notice and consent and generally includes plastic scrap that is pre-sorted, clean, uncontaminated, and destined for environmentally sound recycling.
The Basel Convention has had a significant impact on plastic exports. While the United States is not a Party to the Convention, many of its trading partners are, including Canada and Mexico, two of the biggest recipients of US plastic waste. As such, the new Basel provisions will have a notable impact on US plastic exports. In addition, the Basel Convention has given each party the responsibility to enact its own regulations and standards for the transboundary movement of wastes, with the goal of reducing plastic waste trade by 53 million metric tons by 2030. This has resulted in countries such as China, India, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Thailand implementing policies to limit or ban plastic waste imports, causing a shift in US plastic waste exports from one country to another.
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The US's plastic waste exports and the countries that receive them
The United States is one of the few countries in the world that didn't ratify the global ban on plastic waste trade, known as the Basel Convention. As a result, American companies continue to ship plastic waste to other countries, despite most nations agreeing to limit exports of plastic waste from richer to poorer countries.
In the past, the US sent much of its plastic waste to China, but amid growing environmental and health fears, China implemented tighter regulations on the import of foreign plastic in 2017, resulting in a 92% drop in US plastic waste exports to the country. Since then, the US has redirected its plastic waste exports to countries like Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, and Cambodia, which have become overwhelmed by the sheer volume of plastic waste they receive from not just the US, but other developed countries as well.
Malaysia, the biggest recipient of US plastic recycling since the China ban, has been found to mismanage over half of its own plastic waste, indicating that it likely does not have the capacity to handle the influx of foreign plastic waste. Similarly, Cambodia's waste problem is believed to be exacerbated by plastic waste exports from the US, which local communities are often unaware of.
The US also has bilateral and multilateral agreements with a few countries, including member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), under the OECD Council Decision on Transboundary Movements of Waste destined for Recovery Operations. However, the requirements for trade in non-hazardous plastic scrap vary among OECD countries, and some may not allow trade with the US.
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The process of exporting recycled plastic from Australia
Australia has been exporting millions of tonnes of plastic and other recyclable waste for many years. However, in 2017, China announced restrictions on imports of recycled materials, which led to Australia exporting about 1.3 million tonnes of recyclable material to China. This incident highlighted the fragility of Australia's recycling system and the need to enhance local capacity.
In March 2020, the Australian government, state and territory governments, and the Australian Local Government Association, as members of the former Council of Australian Governments (COAG), agreed to regulate the export of waste glass, plastic, tyres, and paper. The Recycling and Waste Reduction (Export—Waste Plastics) Rules 2021 and the Hazardous Waste Act (Regulation of Exports and Imports) 1989 are used to regulate the export of waste plastic. The latter implements Australia's obligations under the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal.
The Basel Convention, to which 187 countries and the European Commission are party, controls exports and imports of most plastic scrap and waste. Under the Convention, transboundary movements of plastic scrap and waste to party countries require the prior written consent of the importing country and any transit countries, known as the prior notice and consent procedure. There are three categories of plastic scrap and waste under the Basel Convention: the first covers contaminated and mixed plastic scrap, the second covers hazardous plastic waste, and the third covers pre-sorted, clean, uncontaminated plastic scrap, which is exempt from prior notice and consent requirements.
In Australia, a licence is required to export waste plastics that have been sorted, processed, and capable of remanufacture without further processing. However, recycled plastic pellets can be exported without a waste export licence. To obtain a licence for sorted and further processed plastic, exporters must meet specific licensing requirements, and licences are typically granted for up to three years. Additionally, exporters of high-quality recycled plastic flake suitable for a broad range of uses may apply for an unrestricted export licence, supported by evidence of the flake's suitability for remanufacture and minimal contamination.
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The challenges of exporting recycled plastic from the US to Asia
Another challenge is the contamination of recycled plastic exports from the US. In the past, the US has exported contaminated plastic with food residue or non-recyclable materials, leading to environmental and health concerns. As a result, countries like China have implemented stricter regulations, banning the import of certain types of solid waste and setting stricter standards for contamination levels. This has resulted in a significant decrease in US plastic waste exports to China, with a 92% drop reported.
The US has had to redirect its plastic waste exports to other countries in Asia, such as Vietnam, Malaysia, and Thailand. However, these countries are also becoming overwhelmed by the sheer volume of plastic waste they are receiving, not just from the US but from other developed countries as well. This has led to concerns about the mismanagement of plastic waste, with countries lacking the infrastructure and capacity to handle the influx effectively. For example, Malaysia, the biggest recipient of US plastic recycling after the China ban, mismanaged 55% of its own plastic waste.
Additionally, there is a lack of national regulatory actions in the US to stimulate plastic recycling. This results in a low recycling rate and contributes to the accumulation of plastic waste in landfills and aquatic environments. The US is a leading producer and consumer of plastics, and the amount of plastic waste in municipal solid waste has increased significantly over the past two decades. However, the lack of regulatory actions hinders the country's ability to manage this waste effectively.
Furthermore, the export of plastic waste from the US to Asia has ethical implications. Recycling companies in the US have been accused of displacing their waste problems onto developing countries with looser standards and regulations. This strategy is not sustainable, as these countries are beginning to implement policies to limit or ban plastic waste imports altogether. The US needs to prioritize investing in domestic waste management solutions and reducing plastic consumption to address these challenges effectively.
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Frequently asked questions
The Basel Convention, which the US is not a party to, controls exports and imports of most plastic scrap and waste. The US has separate agreements with a few countries, including member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). However, the requirements for transboundary movements of non-hazardous plastic scrap and waste vary among OECD countries.
In Australia, the export of plastic waste is regulated under the Recycling and Waste Reduction Act 2020 (the RaWR Act) and the Hazardous Waste (Regulation of Exports and Imports) Act 1989 (the Hazardous Waste Act). Recycled plastic pellets are no longer considered "regulated waste plastic" and can be exported without a waste export licence.
One challenge is that many countries that previously accepted plastic waste from the US, such as China, have implemented policies to limit or ban plastic waste imports due to environmental and health concerns. This has resulted in the US redirecting its plastic waste exports to other countries, such as Vietnam, Malaysia, and Thailand, which have also become overwhelmed by the influx of plastic.
The process for exporting recycled plastic typically involves finding a facility that can process the plastic and applying for any necessary export licenses or permits. The specific requirements and regulations for exporting recycled plastic vary by country and the type of plastic being exported.
