Ban on export of plastic waste from Europe comes into sight

The Environment Committee adopted the revised proposal of the Waste Shipment Regulation today with 76 votes in favour, 0 against, and 5 abstentions. The European environmental movement, including the Rethink Plastic Alliance and Break Free From Plastic, has worked tirelessly in recent years to convince the Environment Committee of the need for this ban. For decades, European member states exported their waste mainly to China. This came to an end in 2018 when China imposed an import ban. As a result, the export of European waste shifted to countries in Southeast Asia and, more recently, to Turkey. Europe still exports a large amount of waste to other continents: 32.7 million tonnes in 2020. Specifically for plastic waste, this amounted to 1,135 million kilograms in 2021, of which 43% went to non-OECD countries and 35% to Turkey.* Since then, certain European member states have only increased their exports of plastic waste. The text agreed upon by the Environment Committee today stipulates that it is no longer possible to export plastic waste to non-OECD countries. In addition, the export of plastic waste to OECD countries must be phased out within four years. The proposal also provides for a ban on exporting hazardous waste to non-OECD countries. This involves more waste streams than just plastic waste. The export of non-hazardous waste to non-OECD countries would only be allowed if those countries give their consent and demonstrate that they can process it in a sustainable manner. Why is this ban so important? Environmental organisation Recycling Netwerk Benelux has been calling for an export ban for years. For two reasons, it is very good that the Environment Committee is proposing this ban. European need for recycled material An export ban ensures that the (valuable) plastic remains within Europe. This gives a boost to the European recycling sector. This is necessary for the success of the European Circular Economy because we have an increasing need for recycled material. This also reduces our dependence on primary raw materials. The packaging legislation presented on 30 November (Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation) contains targets for recycled content. This means that in the coming years, various types of PET packaging must contain between 10% and 30% recycled material. This material must, however, be available within Europe. Therefore, it is important that we increase the recycling capacity for different types of plastic in Europe. The export ban encourages the market to work on increasing that capacity. Dumping waste outside of Europe is an ethical issue In addition, there is also an ethical aspect to the ban. Shipping plastic waste from wealthy European countries to less affluent countries has far-reaching consequences for the local population. The environmental impact and the negative impact on health is enormous, research by the Environmental Investigation Agency showed. The vast majority of exports take place under the guise of 'recycling'. But data shows that there is a large discrepancy between the recycling capacity of the receiving countries and the amount of plastic waste that arrives from abroad. Take Malaysia as an example: the country produces 2.4 million tonnes of plastic per year itself. It imports an average of 835,000 tonnes. However, the recycling facilities in Malaysia only have a capacity for 515,009 tonnes. The result? It is unclear what happens to about 2.7 million tonnes; it ends up in illegal dumps, is illegally burned, or disappears into a landfill. The consequences for the local population are significant: they are exposed to toxic substances leaking into the water, soil, and air, and the amount of microplastics in the food chain is increasing. Recycling Netwerk Benelux finds it unsustainable and unethical that Europe ships its waste to countries where the necessary infrastructure for processing is lacking, so that we in Europe are at least no longer bothered by it. We therefore certainly welcome the export ban. Next steps The proposal of the Environment Committee is scheduled for a plenary vote in the European Parliament in January 2023. Environmental organisation Recycling Netwerk calls on the European Commission and the representation of the member states to already give their full support to these stricter rules for waste export. *Belgium and the Netherlands are, by the way, in the world top when it comes to the export of plastic waste. Belgium accounts for 4.2% and the Netherlands accounts for 5.6% of the global trade in plastic waste. They thereby export more waste than countries like France, Spain, Canada, or Mexico (Harvard University, The Atlas of Economic Complexity). Do you have a question about this article? Then please contact Janine via j.roling@fairresourcefoundation.org * Research suggests that whe

The Environment Committee adopted the revised proposal of the Waste Shipment Regulation today with 76 votes in favour, 0 against, and 5 abstentions. The European environmental movement, including the Rethink Plastic Alliance and Break Free From Plastic, has worked tirelessly in recent years to convince the Environment Committee of the need for this ban.

For decades, European member states exported their waste mainly to China. This came to an end in 2018 when China imposed an import ban. As a result, the export of European waste shifted to countries in Southeast Asia and, more recently, to Turkey. Europe still exports a large amount of waste to other continents: 32.7 million tonnes in 2020. Specifically for plastic waste, this amounted to 1,135 million kilograms in 2021, of which 43% went to non-OECD countries and 35% to Turkey.* Since then, certain European member states have only increased their exports of plastic waste.

The text agreed upon by the Environment Committee today stipulates that it is no longer possible to export plastic waste to non-OECD countries. In addition, the export of plastic waste to OECD countries must be phased out within four years.

The proposal also provides for a ban on exporting hazardous waste to non-OECD countries. This involves more waste streams than just plastic waste. The export of non-hazardous waste to non-OECD countries would only be allowed if those countries give their consent and demonstrate that they can process it in a sustainable manner.

Why is this ban so important?

Environmental organisation Recycling Netwerk Benelux has been calling for years for the introduction of an export ban. For two reasons, it is very good that the Environment Committee is proposing this ban.

European need for recycled material

An export ban ensures that the (valuable) plastic remains within Europe. This gives a boost to the European recycling sector. This is necessary for the success of the European Circular Economy because we have an increasing need for recycled material. This also reduces our dependence on primary raw materials. The packaging legislation presented on 30 November (Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation) contains targets for recycled content. This means that in the coming years, various types of PET packaging must contain between 10% and 30% recycled material. This material must, however, be available within Europe. Therefore, it is important that we increase the recycling capacity for different types of plastic in Europe. The export ban encourages the market to work on increasing that capacity.

Dumping waste outside of Europe is an ethical issue

In addition, there is also an ethical aspect to the ban. Shipping plastic waste from wealthy European countries to less affluent countries has far-reaching consequences for the local population. The environmental impact and the negative impact on health is enormous, research by the Environmental Investigation Agency showed.

The vast majority of exports take place under the guise of 'recycling'. But data shows that there is a large discrepancy between the recycling capacity of the receiving countries and the amount of plastic waste that arrives from abroad. Take Malaysia as an example: the country produces 2.4 million tonnes of plastic per year itself. It imports an average of 835,000 tonnes. However, the recycling facilities in Malaysia only have a capacity for 515,009 tonnes. The result? It is unclear what happens to about 2.7 million tonnes; it ends up in illegal dumps, is illegally burned, or disappears into a landfill. The consequences for the local population are significant: they are exposed to toxic substances leaking into the water, soil, and air, and the amount of microplastics in the food chain is increasing.

Recycling Netwerk Benelux finds it unsustainable and unethical that Europe ships its waste to countries where the necessary infrastructure for processing is lacking, so that we in Europe are at least no longer bothered by it. We therefore certainly welcome the export ban.

Next steps

The proposal of the Environment Committee is scheduled for a plenary vote in the European Parliament in January 2023. Environmental organisation Recycling Netwerk calls on the European Commission and the representation of the member states to already give their full support to these stricter rules for waste export.

*Belgium and the Netherlands are, by the way, among the world leaders when it comes to the export of plastic waste. Belgium accounts for 4.2 and the Netherlands 5.6 per cent of the global trade in plastic waste. They thereby export more waste than countries like France, Spain, Canada, or Mexico (Harvard University, The Atlas of Economic Complexity).

Do you have a question about this article? Then please contact Janine via j.roling@fairresourcefoundation.org

* Research suggests that when so-called 'hidden plastics' are also included in the calculation (such as plastics originating from textiles and plastic in contaminated paper bales), the actual amount is twice as large.