EA's assessment of the China Waste Import Ban and the resultant local issues

In case you haven't seen the  Environment Agency communication on China Waste Import Ban: Local Issues - here it is in full 

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Background:

• China has recently introduced a ban and restrictions on the import of foreign waste for recycling.
• The measures have been introduced in a bid to improve their poor local environment in a campaign against what China calls 'foreign garbage'.

Situation:

• The outright ban affects a number of waste streams including some plastics and waste paper. In most cases the restricted waste imported for recycling must not exceed 0.5% contamination.
• By 2020 China intends to stop all waste imports.
• In 2016/17 China processed around half the world's waste plastic (approximately 7.3 million tonnes), and this included two thirds of the UK's waste plastics which was about 500,000 tonnes.
• We also shipped around 3.5 million tonnes of waste paper to China for recycling in 2016/17.
• Of that amount some 1.1 million tonnes was mixed paper. This will need additional sorting in the UK to meet the quality restrictions imposed.

Issue:

• UK waste exporters will either need to find other suitable markets in alternative countries or outlets in the UK.
• Outlets in the UK will be swamped and International markets will be under pressure as other countries also look for alternative destinations.
• This could result in a number of potential consequences:

1. Increased waste crime. Potentially resulting in organised large scale flytipping/dumping of waste. Tenants stockpiling waste and then abandoning it - leaving the landowner to arrange and pay for the removal.
2. Stockpiling of waste at regulated sites beyond their capacity and legal limits. Leading to amenity issues such as litter, odour, flies and vermin.
3. Increased fire risk. From both the deliberate illegal burning of the material and self-combustion from large stockpiles at regulated and illegal sites.
4. Waste suitable for recycling could end up in landfill sites or incinerated - with the public and business losing confidence in recycling.
5. Unsuitable waste could be exported to other countries
6. Waste could be exported to countries that operate to a lower standard than China
7. Alternative destinations could also introduce/reduce contamination thresholds (It has already been suggested that Vietnam will do this).

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Action - What the EA have undertaken:

• Established a project team to address the challenges the China restrictions pose.
• Providing ongoing support to the Government's action group
• Formed a National internal network with fortnightly telephone conferences to share intelligence and understand the issue
• Established an industry liaison group with exporters and trade bodies potentially impacted by the restrictions.
• Set out clear instructions to staff where permitted sites have made a request to store more waste than usual to ensure stockpiled waste does not pose a risk to the environment.
• Undertaken presentations to raise awareness, including at the National Association of Waste Disposal Officers conference
• Sent this briefing to all Local Resilience Forums (LRF)

Action - What we would like from the LRFs

• Factor this information into your risk assessments.
• Provide intelligence from your officers that are out and about and from any calls from the public (please contact sarah.drewery@environment-agency.gov.uk).
• Fire and Rescue Service - liaise closely with us. Carry out joint inspections at sites of concern and share information.

Picture references: Top: Jasmine Chan yp.scmp.com; Bottom: West Midlands Fire Service

www.gov.uk/environment-agency