China’s plastic ban sparks call for new strategy to avert crisis

FUNDING cuts coupled with new restrictions on exporting plastic waste to China risk causing a serious crisis for councils across Wales, local government leaders have warned.

Members of the Welsh Local Government Association’s (WLGA) executive board have decided to seek an urgent meeting with Environment Minister Hannah Blythyn and Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford at which they will call for the Welsh Government to devise a new strategy that would see more waste dealt with in Wales.

At present as much as 60% of “recycled” waste in Wales and the UK as a whole is in fact exported overseas, around half of it to China. But the Chinese Government has become concerned that much of the supposedly recyclable waste it is taking from the UK and elsewhere is contaminated. Progressively more restrictive import bans are being introduced.

A report to the WLGA’s executive board expresses concern about an unexpected cut of £2.8m in Welsh Government waste disposal funding for local authorities. A further £2.8m cut is being imposed in 2019-20 thanks to a Welsh Cabinet decision to top-slice a number of budgets to bolster funding for social services and education.

It’s not possible to identify how much “recyclable” waste from Wales has ended up in China because councils tend to sell material to waste brokers who then sell it on themselves. However it’s estimated that each year around 0.4m tonnes of plastic waste has been exported each year to China from the UK as a whole.

While the focus has been on China banning the import of plastic waste, it is also blocking the import of recovered paper and card, a situation described in the WLGA report as “even more serious”.

Andrew Morgan, the leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf council and the WLGA’s presiding officer, said there was a need for a new waste strategy for Wales aimed at reducing the amount of waste produced but also at dealing with more of the country’s waste here in Wales rather than sending it overseas.

A Welsh Government spokeswoman said: “We are in the process of reviewing our waste strategy and that will include consulting on setting higher targets for recycling. Our ultimate long-term aim is to ensure that all waste is recycled, especially plastics. We will also consult in 2018 on a route map for a more resource efficient Wales.

“This will include measures to ensure the greater use of recyclate by Welsh manufacturing companies. Wales’ approach to high quality recycling means it is better placed than many other nations to deal with the consequences of China’s restrictions.

“We are working with councils and other partners to develop the circular economy, including the greater recycling of plastics in Wales. We agree we want to see more material treated at facilities in Wales and will promote the building of new facilities where necessary.”