The National Waste and Recycling Association (NWRA) in the US has sent a letter to President Trump urging him to raise China’s ban on imported recyclables as part of ongoing trade talks with the Chinese government.
Beginning in 2013, China began to make a series of policy shifts to reduce the amount and types of recyclable materials into their country.
In 2017, China announced that it would impose a standard for certain recyclable materials far below industry standards. At the same time, it also banned the importation of several categories of curbside recycled materials.
NWRA President and CEO Darrell Smith – “NWRA believes there are better ways to achieve China’s goal of improving its environment than to place unrealistic restrictions on imported recyclables. The association has requested the Chinese government phase in its new requirements over a period of five years.”
NWRA President and CEO Darrell Smith said: “NWRA believes there are better ways to achieve China’s goal of improving its environment than to place unrealistic restrictions on imported recyclables. The association has requested the Chinese government phase in its new requirements over a period of five years.
“These restrictions could eventually lead to the loss of tens of thousands of jobs and the closure of many recycling businesses. We urge the President and his team to raise these concerns with the Chinese government,” said Smith.
The US solid waste industry directly employs about 420,000 people with a total payroll of more than $21 billion.
The ban, which became effective March 1, 2018, has shown to have a “significant impact” on the domestic waste and recycling industry, the NWRA says.
The National Waste and Recycling Association represents the private sector waste and recycling services industry in the United States. Association members conduct business in all 50 states, and include companies that manage waste, recycling and medical waste, equipment manufacturers and distributors, and a variety of other service providers.
