Page 35 - Plastics News March 2018

internAtionAL news

Taiwan's single-use plastics ban Chinese recyclers shifting

aims to cut waste over time operations

aiwan's government is making a strong push to try to lastics recyclers in China, impacted by their
Tchange consumers' use of disposable plastic products, Pgovernment's crackdown on imported scrap
rolling out a wide-ranging ban on single-use plastics such materials, still have interest in setting up operations
as straws, bags, cups and utensils.The ban by Taiwan's in the United States.But they are now
Environmental Protection Administration, which was more focused on finding locations in
Asia that they will be able to get up and
announced last month, will be rolled out in three stages
running more quickly, said Steve Wong,
managing director of Hong Kong-based
Fukutomi Co. Ltd.

Wong, who lives in Los Angeles and has
recycling operations in Asia, has been
a voice helping explain and decipher the impacts of
China's import ban on countries around the world that
once heavily relied on that market. He also serves
as executive president of the China Scrap Plastics
Association, which was at the recent Plastics Recycling
starting next year, but it will be a slow-moving policy, with 2018 conference in Nashville to continue exploring
changes not implemented fully until 2030. If completely opportunities for the group's members in the United
States. "Over there, it's not so complicated," Wong said
enacted, it would be one of the world's toughest policies about establishing operations in other Asian countries
aimed at single-use plastics. Environmental groups praised such as Vietnam, Malaysia and Thailand. "Over there,
it, while plastics industry reaction ranged from resignation you rent a warehouse while you get your license. Also,
to concern that biodegradable plastics were being ignored. these places, the cooperation from authorities is OK,
Plastic straws will be first. Starting next year in 2019, food you don't get kicked out."
and beverage stores will not be able to provide them for Jason Wang is vice chairman and secretary general at
in-store use, and in 2020, they'll be banned from providing the China Scrap Plastics Association and was part of the
free straws. contingency in Nashville.He believes China's decision
will ultimately be good for domestic recycling in that
By 2025, fines will be levied for carryout use, and by 2030, country as well as in other countries throughout the
they would be completely banned.Plastic bags, beverage world, including the United States. "I think the impact
cups and utensils will be subject to similar rollout bans over to the American trade industry is a good thing for the
the next 12 years, with full bans slated for 2030. Taiwan's America companies," he said through a translator. "You
EPA said in a statement that it's been working on plastics get a different result when you look at things from a
waste issues since 2002, when it asked supermarkets to different angle. To Chinese companies, they either
start charging for bags. It said it's concerned about plastic have to invest in other countries or recycle materials in
pollution in oceans and rivers. "The EPA and grassroots China or they just change their business. Even though
environmental protection groups sought broad dialogue China does not import materials anymore," the country
and consensus from people from all walks of life, including still has a great need for recycled plastics to make new
products, he said. That means China will have to collect
the general public, plastic manufacturers and businesses more of its own used plastics. And that will improve
with the aim of achieving a goal of 'reduce plastic, limit the environment, he said. Another obstacle facing U.S.-
plastic, zero plastic,'" the EPA said. "The driving force based recyclers is the fact that they face import duties
behind the plastic control policy comes from both the if they send recycled pellets to China while importers
government and the nongovernmental sector and at the from other Asian countries are not subject to the same
same time has the public's support," the agency said. treatment, Wong said.

35 March 2018 Plastics News