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Con t r o l l i n g t r a n s bounda r y t r a d e i n p l a s t i c w a s t e
M A R I A T S A K O N A W A S T E M A N A G E M E N T E X P E R T
N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 9
http://www.grida.no/publications/443
1. Flaws in the current global recycling model
2. Impacts of plastic scrap transboundary movement
3. Recommendations
THE GLOBAL PLASTIC INDUSTRY
GLOBAL PLASTIC RECYCLING
ONLY 9%
Source: @ISWA MLTF
GLOBAL SYSTEMIC FAILURES
MARKET INDICATORS Low grade, mixed, unsorted and contaminated scrap
plastics are costly to process and have little or no market value.
Low oil and gas prices make virgin plastic cheap and undermine the market for secondary plastic feedstock.
Global trade deficit with China lowers return shipping costs.
Low demand for recycled feedstock and materials. Lower environmental controls, working standards
and cheaper labour make it cost effective to export waste to emerging economies.
FLAWS IN THE CURRENT GLOBALRECYCLING MODEL
COMPLIANCE
Existing international trade codes do not match control requirements. This promotes low accountability and transparency throughout the value chain.
Weak enforcement of pollution control in recipient countries.
Competent authorities in waste importing countries lack capacity to monitor the amount of waste entering their territories.
POLICY
High recycling targets in developed countries that heavily rely on transboundary movement.
Emerging trade restrictions in recipient countries starting with China and followed by other countries.
Under current regulations, scrap plastic does not require control for the transboundary movement.
Lack of traceability or obligation for exporters to demonstrate the environmental performance of exported waste recycling.
Dr i v e r s o f p l a s t i c l e a k a g e s f r om c o l l e c t e d w a s t e
CULTURE
Single-use plastic consumerism trends.
While some plastic products such as building materials have long lifecycles, the majority of plastic products have a short lifetime lasting between one day and two years.
FLAWS IN THE CURRENT GLOBALRECYCLING MODEL
WASTE MANAGEMENT, TRANSPORTATION AND TECHNOLOGY
Insufficient recycling and technological capacity along with high capital and operational costs in industrialized countries.
Despite advancing methodologies to recycle plastic, there are still technological shortfalls that make sorting scrap plastic challenging
Low-tech recycling at emerging economies
Delays in transportation trade hubs e.g., over-supply at ports in emerging scrap plastic markets.
Dr i v e r s o f p l a s t i c l e a k a g e s f r om c o l l e c t e d w a s t e
Chinese import restriction -2018
Asian countries drastically increased imports
Inadequate waste management systems
IMPACTS OF PLASTIC SCRAP
TRANSBOUNDARY MOVEMENT
IMPACTS OF PLASTIC SCRAP
TRANSBOUNDARY MOVEMENT
IMPACTS OF PLASTIC SCRAP
TRANSBOUNDARY MOVEMENT
IMPACTS OF PLASTIC SCRAP
TRANSBOUNDARY MOVEMENT
RECOMMENDATIONS
RECOMMENDATIONS
DESIGN OF PRODUCTS FOR
RECYCLABILITY & RECYCLING
ENHANCING SORTING IN EXPORTING COUNTRIES
ENHANCING END-MARKETS FOR SECONDARY MATERIALS
MONITOR TRANSBOUNDARY
MOVEMENT OF PLASTICS
ASSESS THE WHOLE VALUE CHAIN OF
PLASTICS
Products design focusing on easy separation of the different materials of a product at the endof their lives would enhance effective capture and recycling of plastics
Enhancing technologies or installing advanced sorting processes at plastic recycling facilities inexporting countries will increase the industry’s efficiency globally and minimize leakages intothe environment.
will motivate increased efforts to better collect and process scrap plastic. Strengthening globalcontamination standards, converting scrap plastic into granules for recycled products will be moreeconomically viable. Regulations that favour products manufactured from recycled materials can boost themarket of secondary materials.
Strengthening procedures under the Basel Convention would ensure scrap plastic exports aremonitored to increase environmental accountability of plastic recycling
The transboundary and complex nature of scrap plastic trade need to be better monitored and theeconomic, social and environmental impacts of the plastics recycling sector on local and global levels beanalyzed. Improved information and data gathering will promote informed decision making.
THANK YOU
MARIA TSAKONA
WASTE MANAGEMENT EXPERTmaria . tsakona@grida.no
© 2 0 1 9 B Y S E A c i r c u l a r
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