Page 32 - Plastics News June 2019

 South Korea saw a large increase of imports from 5,000 tons per month in late 2017 to 20,000
tons per month in late 2018, mainly climbing imports from Japan at 10,000 tons per month, the
USA at 4,000 tons per month and Thailand at 2,000 tons per month.
FEATURES  This huge increase of imports has caused a drop in prices for recyclable collected locally, making
it economically unattractive to recycle the plastic waste generated within South Korea 18 . Trash
started to pile up on the streets with some recyclers resorting to exporting plastic waste illegally
to the Philippines 19 .
 Before 2018, South Korea’s exports went primarily to China Mainland at 15,000 tons per month.
By late 2018, South Korea’s export dropped to 2,000 tons per month.

India, Taiwan, South Korea, Turkey, and Indonesia saw j. Turkey

imports rise as new restrictions pushed imports down in
Malaysia, Vietnam, and Thailand. But the second wave
of new importing countries/regions saw a markedly
Graph 2: Imports of plastic waste by China Mainland, Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand between January 2016 and
November 2018 (in tons per month)
smaller rise, which does not fully account for the drop in

India, Taiwan, South Korea, Turkey, and Indonesia saw imports rise as new restrictions pushed imports
imports from the new restrictions in Malaysia, Vietnam,
down in Malaysia, Vietnam, and Thailand. But the second wave of new importing countries/regions saw
and Thailand
a markedly smaller rise, which does not fully account for the drop in imports from the new restrictions in
Malaysia, Vietnam, and Thailand (Graph 3).

Graph 16: Imports of plastic scraps coming into Turkey (in tons), showing the top 10 export partners.

 Turkey’s imports rose sharply from 4,000 tons per month in early 2016 to 33,000 tons per month
Turkey’s imports rose sharply from 4,000 tons per month in
in early 2018. Imports then dropped to 20,000 tons per month in mid-2018, and has remained
quite steady.
 There was a sharp increase in import from the UK at 10,000 tons starting October 2018.
early 2016 to 33,000 tons per month in early 2018. Imports
 The government has not announced any restrictions on plastic waste import.
then dropped to 20,000 tons per month in mid-2018, and
has remained quite steady.
There was a sharp increase in import from the UK at
10,000 tons starting October 2018.

18 In South Korea, a lesson to be learned from a plastic waste crisis.
The government has not announced any restrictions on
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/cnainsider/south-korea-plastic-waste-crisis-reducing-recycling-china-10805292
19 Korea takes flak for illegal waste export to Philippines. https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2018/12/371_260197.html

Graph 3: Imports of plastic waste by Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand vs. India, Taiwan, South Korea, Turkey and plastic waste import. 14
Imports of plastic waste by Malaysia, Vietnam and
Indonesia between January 2016 and November 2018 (in tons per month)
4
Thailand vs. India, Taiwan, South Korea, Turkey and
Indonesia between January 2016 and November 2018 (in The Greenpeace report covers new trends and statistics on
tons per month) plastic scrap trade following China’s import ban in 2017.

Main findings show that plastic waste has been redirected
b. India
to less regulated countries, especially South East Asian
countries and Turkey and that global plastic scrap
exporters now have an enormous volume of unprocessed
waste. Following the first six months of China’s import
regulation on plastic imports, Malaysia, Thailand, and
Vietnam followed suit and restricted their imports too.
Consequently, European plastic waste was then directed
to Turkey.
Turkey is 8th biggest plastic waste importer

Graph 5: Imports of plastic scraps coming into India (in tons), showing the top 10 export partners. At the end of 2018, Turkey became the 8th biggest plastic

 India’s import of plastic waste steadily rose from 12,000 tons per month in 2016 to 35,000 tons waste importer in the world, with 436,000 tons of waste
per month in mid-2018. Rising monthly imports from the US accounted for most of this rise. Then
India’s import of plastic waste steadily rose from 12,000 being imported compared to being 17th in 2015 with
it dropped slightly to 30,000 tons per month, coming mainly from the USA at 10,000 tons per
month, Germany at 5,000 tons per month, and Malaysia at 5,000 tons per month by November
tons per month in 2016 to 35,000 tons per month in mid- 104,000 tons. In 2018, the main plastic waste exporters
2018.
 Since 2016, imports of plastic waste have been allowed only in Special Economic Zones. But in
March 2019, Indian Government announced an import ban of plastic scraps effective from
2018. Rising monthly imports from the US accounted for to Turkey were UK, Germany, Iraq, Belgium and the US.
September 2019 10 .

most of this rise. Then it dropped slightly to 30,000 tons In 2015, UK’s plastic scrap exports to Turkey were around
per month, coming mainly from the USA at 10,000 tons per 759 tons but increased to 82,736 tons in 2018 – 109 times
month, Germany at 5,000 tons per month, and Malaysia more. Although many countries revised their import policy
at 5,000 tons per month by November 2018. after China’s policy change regarding waste imports,
Since 2016, imports of plastic waste have been allowed Turkey has seen it as a growing business opportunity and
only in Special Economic Zones. But in March 2019, Indian has not recognized the crisis. There are currently 751
Government announced an import ban of plastic scraps licensed recycling facilities and 566 waste collecting and
effective from September 201910 separating centers in Turkey.

Plastics News June 2019
10 Six month timetable for India plastics restriction, 32
https://www.letsrecycle.com/news/latest-news/indias-plastics-import-restriction-begins/
6