Q&A

How much plastic do we export to China?

Around 400,000 tons a year – half of which is domestic recycling.

Why do we send recycling to China?

China has accepted lower quality recycling than many other countries, and has huge demand for raw materials. Sending plastic to China lets us meet higher recycling targets and reduces landfill in the UK. At the same time we have not had to improve the quality of our recycling in the UK.

What happens to it?

It is meant to be recycled and turned into new plastic – but critics say conditions in the Chinese recycling industry can be shocking. A 2014 documentary highlighted poor conditions and child labour at a plant in Shandong province. Scenes showed workers sorting plastic by burning it with cigarette lighters and sniffing the fumes.

What will we do if we can’t export it?

Temporary storage of plastic underground is one possible solution, as is incineration. Waste companies are urgently seeking new markets and recyclers are hoping to find new plants to process plastic in the UK.