The UK’s exports of plastic waste to south-east Asia have surged in 2018 following China’s crackdown on waste imports, in a trend that industry executives say may be unsustainable. The latest HM Revenue & Customs statistics show that UK exports of plastic waste to Malaysia tripled during the first four months of 2018 compared to 2017, making it the single biggest destination for British plastics. Exports to Thailand, rose fifty-fold in the four-month period, while those to Taiwan rose more than ten-fold. The shift underscores how the global market has changed after China – which was previously the world’s biggest importer of plastic waste – decided to close its borders. David Palmer-Jones, chief executive of recycling and recovery in the UK for Suez, the French waste and water utility, said the volatility in the global market for plastic scrap could present a “perfect opportunity” for the country to invest more in recycling infrastructure at home.

Posted by

Financial Times