The 11th Meeting of the Open-Ended Working Group of the Basel Convention has concluded with support for Norway’s proposal to add plastics to the list of wastes subject to the trade controls under the convention, according to a number of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) that back the proposal.

The proposal is seen as a key mechanism to reduce marine debris and plastic litter, the NGOs, which include the Basel Action Network (BAN), Seattle; the Break Free From Plastic movement; and the Center for International Environmental Law (CEIL), Washington, say. It would add plastic waste to Annex II, a list of wastes for “special consideration” under the Basel Convention that requires notification by exporting countries and consent by importing countries prior to export.

Because of the growing volume of plastic waste being produced and the plastic scrap import ban in China, this material, primarily from Europe, Japan and North America, has been looking for homes on the global market, which it has found in Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam and Indonesia, the organizations say. “The plastic scrap is often contaminated and mixed in ways that makes it difficult or impossible to recycle and thus ends up being dumped or burned openly in the recipient countries, creating toxic emissions and terrestrial and marine pollution,” they add.

As of June 24, Thailand had seized 30,000 container loads of plastic scrap at its ports and began imposing an import ban.

“Southeast Asia is already being hit hard by a tsunami of plastic waste,” says Von Hernandez, global coordinator of the Break Free from Plastic movement. “The Norwegian proposal to place plastic scrap under Basel controls will be a significant first step to protect Southeast Asia and developing countries everywhere from becoming the trash bins of the developed world.”

According to the NGOs, many countries voiced their support for the Norwegian proposal on the floor of the meeting, including China, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, El Salvador, Ghana, Indonesia, Kenya, Libya, Maldives, Malaysia, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Panama, Senegal, South Africa, State of Palestine, Switzerland, Togo, Tunisia and Uruguay. However, some countries, including the EU, Canada, Japan and Australia, hope to block, delay or water down the proposal, the organizations add.

The Washington-based Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, a trade organization representing the recycling industry, has voiced its concern regarding the proposals before the Basel Convention, saying they could reshape and harm the trade of plastic scrap.

In response to such concerns, David Azoulay, senior attorney for CIEL, says, “The severity of the plastic pollution problem and its impacts on human health and the environment are undeniable and require urgent action. We cannot let a few countries or industry sectors prevent much-needed and overdue action from the global community.”

The meeting also recommended the creation of a multistakeholder global partnership on the minimization of plastic waste.

Both proposals will be forwarded to the 14th Conference of the Parties of the Basel Convention for a decision in April 2019.

“The Basel Convention is uniquely positioned to take a leadership role in stemming the flood tide of plastic waste now engulfing the entire planet,” says Jim Puckett, BAN director. “They can do this not only by controlling unwanted trade but [also] by promoting steps to minimize the production of single-use and other unsustainable plastic products. We are thrilled that this week's meeting has clearly signaled a turning of the tide.”

Phoenix Services, based in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, signed a long-term contract for the agglomeration of internally generated materials at Emirates Steel, located in the United Arab Emirates. The contract was signed by H.E. Saeed Al Remeithi, CEO of Emirates Steel, and Mark Essig, president and CEO of Phoenix Services LLC.

According to a Phoenix Services report, the contract signed is part of Emirates Steel’s green initiatives program with the specific goal of enabling the reuse of steel mill byproducts. The recycling project will be environmentally friendly, and it will also reduce steelmaking costs. 

“This contract demonstrates Phoenix Services’ and the region’s commitment to recycling and environmentally conscious steel production,” Essig says in a company report. 

Additionally, Phoenix Services plans to have its plant completed and operational in 2019, according to a company report. The company is a global provider of outsourced industrial services to steel mills. It has operations in 34 locations in North America, South America, Europe and Africa. The company says it is now entering markets in the Middle East. 

More details about Phoenix Services can be found on the company’s website.

E-Reuse Services, Chicago, has announced that it is working with NSF International to make the 2018 Electronics Reuse Conference, scheduled for Oct. 29-31 at the Hilton Nashville Downtown, a waste-free event.

E-Reuse Services provides consulting and collaboration services to electronics repair, recycling and refurbishing industries and hosts the annual conference. In January 2018, ERS launched the E-Reuse Network, a new collaboration forum to connect device repair businesses, electronics recyclers, PC refurbishers and information technology asset disposition (ITAD) firms with the vendors that supply them with the tools and services they need to run their businesses.

Ann Arbor, Michigan-based NSF International is an independent, global organization that facilitates the development of public health and safety standards and provides certification and testing services. With operations in more than 175 countries, NSF International is a Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Center on Food Safety, Water Quality and Indoor Environment.

In its 15th year, the Electronics Reuse Conference provides the opportunity for people around the world working in the areas of electronics refurbishment and repair, asset management, electronics recycling and digital inclusion to come together to network, build business relationships, discuss best practices and learn new techniques for refurbishing and recycling electronics efficiently and cost-effectively.

This year’s attendees will be supplied with the appropriate disposal bins (recycling or compost) for their waste and will be asked to be mindful of bringing anything into the show that may need to be disposed of and to reuse any packaging that may be needed for shipping. The event also will actively minimize single-use items in favor of reusable alternatives, the organizers say.

E-Reuse Services, the company that runs the E-Reuse Conference, says it is excited about working with NSF International on a waste reduction initiative for the annual event.

“ERC, and the electronics reuse industry, is committed to serving the environment through reuse and repair advocacy,” says Sarah Cade, co-founder of E-Reuse Services. “I’m ecstatic about the opportunity to enhance that commitment by working with NSF to make ERC 2018 Waste-Free, and I hope this helps to create a trend that extends to other events in our industry going forward.”

NSF International will implement waste reduction efforts at the conference.

Jamie Bush, business development manager for sustainability at NSF International, says, “We are seeing a trend in eliminating waste, and we want to do our part to ensure that waste reduction efforts become the norm for companies and events in the future.”

Visit www.ereuseconference.com to register for the event.

Charlotte, North Carolina-based Nucor Corp. says its board of directors has approved an investment of $650 million to expand steelmaking capacity at Nucor Steel Gallatin, the firm’s flat-rolled sheet steel mill in Ghent, Kentucky. The planned expansion will increase output capability from 1.6 million tons to approximately 3 million tons annually.

A 2017 recycled-content document prepared by Nucor in May 2018 indicates the Nucor Gallatin mill consumed ferrous scrap as 66.9 percent of its feedstock last year.

“This investment is another major component of our planned strategy for long-term profitable growth,” says John Ferriola, chair, CEO and president of Nucor. “Together with the new galvanizing line, this expansion increases our presence in the important Midwest market, specifically in the automotive, agriculture, heavy equipment and energy pipe and tube sectors.”

Nucor acquired the former Gallatin Steel Co. in late 2014 for approximately $780 million.

“We would like to thank Gov. Matt Bevin, our local officials, East Kentucky Power Cooperative and Owen Electric, our teammates and the entire community for their support,” comments John Farris, vice president and general manager of Nucor Steel Gallatin. “The project will allow us to better serve our automotive and value-added customers.”

This expansion will increase the maximum coil width at the mill to approximately 73 inches. Nucor says the project also complements a $176 million investment currently underway to construct a hot band continuous pickle galvanizing line at Nucor Steel Gallatin. The pickle galvanizing line is expected to be operational in the first half of 2019 and will produce approximately 500,000 tons per year of galvanized hot band steel, according to the company.