Don’t dismiss recycling exports on the basis of a few bad apples, says Recycling Association Chief Executive

Recycling Association Chief Executive Simon Ellin has insisted that the recycling and plastic industry should not be tainted by the actions of a minority of companies, following the news that Malaysia is to send back containers of illegally exported plastic waste.

The membership of the Recycling Association has committed to producing a high-quality secondary commodity and wants the rest of the supply chain to work to the same goals, meaning manufacturers, retailers, and local authorities all need to commit to producing a high-quality product for use by both the UK and export recyclers.

Ellin said: “We are entering very difficult waters. From the photos I have seen of the material being sent back to countries around the world, it looks like the mixed supermarket films that are collected from the kerbside collection schemes by local authorities.”

“These particular materials are so variable and difficult to separate and recycle that we have a stark choice now of whether to stop collecting them altogether or move the material down the waste hierarchy and incinerate them while recovering the energy.”

“The longer-term solution is of course for the producers not to produce them in the first place. A trip around any supermarket fruit and vegetable aisle has me shaking my head in disbelief at the plethora of unnecessary plastics ‘protecting’ the produce.”

“The Recycling Association is against illegal exports of general waste rubbish and poor quality materials to other nations. That is why we launched our Quality First campaign three years ago to push for materials to meet the legal specifications of the importing country.”

“Our members want to trade quality secondary commodities to these nations.”

“We shouldn’t let a minority of companies that operate in violation of international and domestic laws undermine the legitimate trade of a secondary commodity. Malaysia has itself acknowledged the benefits to its manufacturing sector of importing recyclable materials that can be turned into new products there.”

‘If we send these high-quality secondary commodities to UK, European, or Asian recyclers, we are often sending them back to the location or country where they were first manufactured to be turned into new products.”

“With the Government proposing a plastic tax on any plastic packaging with less than 30 per cent recycled content, we will need to ensure there is a global trade of recyclable materials so that manufacturers can import products with this recycled plastic content.”

“Plastic is an amazing product that protects our food and other products from damage. But it should also be easily recyclable at the end of its life. We welcome that the Government is planning on introducing Extended Producer Responsibility as part of its Resources and Waste Strategy, and that should force manufacturers to design and produce easily recyclable packaging.”

“This should help us in our aim of consistently producing a high-quality secondary commodity and should lead to more UK recycling infrastructure being developed, but will also enable us to export what is left over back to countries where it was manufactured originally.”

“The timelines for us to see the impact of the changes proposed is at least five years, so we believe the producers of these plastics need to take action before they are forced to. It is their responsibility, and they cannot continue to pass the buck down the supply chain.”

“Malaysia is right to crack down on illegal imports. But we should recognise that international trade of secondary commodities benefits all parts of the manufacturing supply chain, and legitimate exporters of a high-quality product should not be blamed for the actions of a minority.”