End Harmful Waste Exports
Plastic Waste Trade
Facts: The social and environmental harms caused by plastic, paper, textile and other waste exports are well-documented, including in the Netflix documentary Buy Now! Actions to find markets for waste materials collected in U.S. communities should not harm communities in other countries. The only credible way to assure that the harms of waste exports are stopped is to stop waste exports altogether.
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Background: Plastic, paper, and textile waste has been exported and counted as “recycled” by industrialized countries for decades. Without documented traceability of the final fate of the waste, bales of waste plastic collected from municipal and commercial recycling systems were shipped to buyers in foreign countries, many of which had no worker age and wage protections, no health and safety standards, few environmental regulations and no guarantee that the waste would actually be recycled.
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We collaborate with the Basel Action Network (BAN) to publish Key Metrics to stop the plastic waste trade. Connect to BAN's Plastic Waste Transparency Hub to find trade charts and the latest news on the plastic waste trade.
Shipping Lines Campaign
We also collaborating with the Basel Action Network (BAN) to ask global shipping companies to stop transporting plastic waste. Connect to BAN's Shipping Lines Campaign page to find the Shipping Lines Scorecard and the latest news on shipping companies.
Paper Waste Trade
Facts:
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Mixed paper waste collected from households via curbside recycling bins is classifed as Grade 54 with the HS 4707.9 shipping code.
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Mixed paper waste contains high (30%) plastic contamintation.
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To protect their communities and environment, countries have implemented full bans or contamination limits on mixed paper imports.
Import Regulations on Mixed Paper (Grade 54 = HS 4707.9) Waste
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China: Banned Import of Other Paper HS4707.9 from all countries in 2018
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India: 1% maximum contamination in all paper and OCC waste imports
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Indonesia: 2% maximum contamination in all paper and OCC waste imports
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Malaysia: Banned Import of Other Paper HS4707.9 from all countries in 2022
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South Korea: Banned Import of mixed paper waste
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Taiwan: Banned Import of mixed paper wastes
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Thailand: 2% maximum contamination in all paper and OCC waste imports
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Vietnam: Banned Import of Other Paper HS4707.9 from All Countries in 2022
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Export Data Proves that the U.S. is a Major Mixed Paper Waste Exporter to Countries that Have Banned Imports & California is the Primary Exporting State
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U.S. plastic waste found dumped on riverbank next to a pulp and paper mill in East Java, Indonesia.
Photo Credit: Ecoton
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