World recycling associations call for stronger links in cross-border scrap trade

By Paul Ploumis

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The Bureau of International Recycling (BIR) and the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) demonstrated their commitment last week to sort out issues related to cross-border trade of scrap materials. The BIR officials held meeting with members of Chinese trade associations to further boost trade in the region especially in the wake of tightened controls on account of National Sword campaign. Also, ISRI warned that the proposal to impose tax on goods entering the US may harm industries including scrap.

A top level BIR delegation comprising of Ranjit Baxi-President, David Chiao-President of Non-Ferrous Metals Division and Ma Hongchang- BIR’s special advisor in China met members of prominent trade associations in China. In its meeting with members of the China Association of Metal Scrap Utilization (CAMU), BIR noted that the rapid development in China during recent years has transformed the country into the world’s largest waste importer. The country’s inward shipment of waste is estimated at around 50 million tons per annum, it said.

The delegation also held meetings with officials belonging to the China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association Recycling Metal Branch (CMRA) and the China Scrap Plastics Association (CSPA). Baxi stated that the world recycling body is honored to have partnered with CMRA over the years. The recycling of metals has significantly reduced harmful carbon emissions and has resulted in conservation of precious natural resources. At the same time, Baxi also called for strengthening of links at the scientific, social and institutional level in order to share these experiences with other world countries.

The meeting with CSPA officials discussed several relevant issues including the plastic scrap loaded containers stuck at the port of Hong Kong awaiting clearance from Chinese officials. The delegation also discussed the after-effects of regulations imposed by the ‘National Sword 2017’ on scrap plastic shipments entering Chinese ports. Meantime, CSPA officials noted that the new standards would ensure availability of quality materials to domestic buyers.

The Chinese Customs authorities had recently announced the ‘National Sword 2017’ campaign, in a bid to introduce fresh regulations to restrict waste imports into the country. The one-year long campaign launched by the country’s Customs Department in co-operation with the Excise Department targets imported scrap materials with special focus on illegal shipment of industrial waste, electronics waste, plastics and other solid waste. Several international recycling organizations including BIR had extended full support to the initiative and had warned its members to be extremely watchful in their shipments to other countries, especially to China.

In another related development, the ISRI has warned the new US administration about the consequences of imposing a cross-border tax on goods entering the country. According to ISRI, such tax schemes would hamper the free flow of materials including scrap across the border. As this tax will be applicable not only to Mexico, but also to countries such as Canada, Europe, Asia and South America, it would have serious impact on scrap trade and activities of industries that rely on scrap imports.