British plastics group publishes position paper

The British Plastics Federation (BPF) has released a position paper supporting the aims of the Norway proposal on plastic scrap exports. The proposal has been tabled under the United Nations’ Basel Convention to ensure plastic scrap exports are treated in an environmentally sound manner once they reach their destinations.

The BPF says it believes that low-grade, mixed plastic scrap exports should undergo tighter controls, irrespective of destination. This will create a strong driver to improve the quality of sorted plastics being produced by material recovery facilities (MRFs) throughout the U.K.

According to the BPF, depending on exporting plastic scrap has left the country exposed to criticism that it is contributing to overseas sources of marine plastic pollution.

BPF Director-General Philip Law says, “Improving the quality of plastic waste exports has the highly important potential to boost the recycling industry and can contribute toward reducing the over-reliance on plastic waste exports and in developing a domestic recycling culture.”

The BPF has been vocal in the past about the need for the U.K. to reduce its reliance on plastic scrap exports and, at the same time, drive investment to expand national recycling capacity.