Politics

A trend towards the “unilateral imposition of regulations” was bemoaned by BIR World President Ranjit Singh Baxi of J&H Sales International during the world recycling organisation’s latest Paper Division meeting, held in Barcelona on May 28.

Environmental legislation is now regularly discussed in every division and committee within BIR, thereby fully validating the decision of the world recycling association to form the International Environment Council (IEC) approaching two decades ago.

The Chinese government’s decision to suspend the issuing of inspection certificates for the month up to June 4 will cost US exporters an estimated US$ 400 million as well as a further US$ 100 million associated with market value and shipment diversions to other destinations such as India and South Korea, the latest BIR Ferrous Division meeting was told by its Interim President Tom Bird of Chiho Environmental Group in China.

Faced with China’s import ban on plastics scrap, processing operations have been moving to South East Asian countries such as Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam. However, these nations are also sharpening their focus on environmental controls, according to Dr Steve Wong of Fukutomi Co. Ltd and the China Scrap Plastics Association.

Manufacturers should place durable, repairable and recyclable products on the EU market in addition to making them energy efficient.

According to FEAD our industry sees it as another step towards a more circular economy. The private waste and resources management industry plays a key role in making this progress …

EuPC regrets to read that the European Commission has put forward today the proposal for a Directive on the reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment, that mainly targets so-called “single use plastics” and fishing gear, especially in the context of the recent Plastics Strategy Communication.

PlasticsEurope supports the overarching objective of the “Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment” presented today by the European Commission, namely to reduce marine litter in our seas.

With the amount of harmful plastic litter in oceans and seas growing ever greater, the European Commission is proposing new EU-wide rules to target the 10 single-use plastic products most often found on Europe’s beaches and seas, as well as lost and abandoned fishing gear.

BIR has received information that the Chinese Ministry of Ecology and Environment has officially replied to the General Office of the General Administration of Customs, confirming that the import of high-grade PET as ordinary goods is allowed and in accordance with general trade regulation.

As the European Parliament and Member States gear up for the next negotiations on May 17th, the Council’s latest position promote the inclusion of recycled carbon fuels within the scope …