Breaking news, South Korea banned the import of waste plastics PET, PE, PP, PS

Breaking news, South Korea banned the import of waste plastics PET, PE, PP, PS

The latest release from the Korean Environment Agency on June 30, 2020:

1. In order to eliminate the domestic waste plastic backlog and promote the recycling of waste plastics, South Korea has implemented import restrictions on waste plastics (PET, PE, PP, PS) from June 30.

2. When it is difficult to purchase domestic alternative materials, the local environment ministry may consider the domestic backlog and the recycling market, etc., and allow exceptional imports.

Restricted import objects

The impact of the drop in crude oil prices and the new crown epidemic at the beginning of this year has aggravated the backlog of waste PET and recycled raw materials in South Korea, but South Korea’s annual import of waste plastics continues to increase, increasing the insecurity of the domestic recycling system.

Annual waste plastic (PET, PE, PP, PS) import volume

In order to eliminate the domestic waste plastic backlog and promote the recycling of waste plastics, the Ministry of Environment of Korea has started from June 30th, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polystyrene For four waste plastics such as ethylene (PS), waste import permits and declarations in Korea will be restricted.

The release of the import restrictions aims to eliminate domestic waste plastic pollution by restricting the import of highly polluted waste plastics such as PET, and prevent environmental pollution caused by the import of contaminated low-level waste plastics.

Unrestricted import target

Recycled raw materials that are not subject to waste import declarations, such as uncontaminated waste plastics, will be excluded from the import restrictions. For previously accepted import permits and declared items, imports can be carried out as before.

In addition, for alternative materials that are difficult to procure in the country, other local environmental administrators believe that imports are permitted and other inevitable circumstances, and the local environment agency will consider the domestic backlog and reuse market conditions to allow exceptions for imports.

In addition, the Ministry of Environment has also promoted the improvement of related systems in order to prevent illegal import and export activities similar to the illegal export of waste in the Philippines in 2018. The government also plans to strengthen the management of export waste, for example, "waste import and export must be guaranteed insurance", "designated import and export safety management center to strengthen on-site inspections before customs clearance".

Li Yingji, the resource recycling policy officer of the Ministry of Environment, said, "In order to protect the environment and national health, it is necessary to restrict the import of domestic alternative waste", "In order to prevent domestic enterprises from making a difference in ensuring alternatives, we will continue to promote the improvement of domestic waste. Plastic quality efforts.

Comparison of domestic and imported waste plastics

For industries that use imported waste plastics, domestic plastic bottles can be recycled for alternative use

1. Before the new crown epidemic, the domestic supply of renewable raw materials was in short supply. Renewable raw materials and renewable raw materials using domestic renewable raw materials and imported wastes could all be used in China.

2. In the past, the proportion of non-ferrous plastics in Korea was high, and the quality of waste plastics was poor. At present, the proportion of colorless plastic bottles in Korea is high, and the imported waste plastics are actually similar in quality to domestic renewable raw materials.

Colorless percentage of total domestic plastic bottle production