ISWA 2014 REPORT
Global recycling markets: plastic waste
In September 2014, ISWA published the final report “Global Recycling Markets: Plastic Waste,” which is part of the final report “Globalisation and Waste Management” developed by the ISWA Task Force.
“Plastic materials have been emblematic in transforming our lives for 60 years due to their functionality. Global plastic production, primarily from fossil raw materials, has increased significantly, from 1.5 million tons in 1950 to 288 million tons in 2012. Sustainable production and consumption, as well as the circular economy, require minimal use of virgin materials and gas emissions. Thus, the globalized trade in plastics is a major option.”
The report was developed by the ISWA Task Force team: Antonis Mavropoulos (Greece), David C. Wilson (UK), Björn Appelqvist (Denmark), Costas Velis (UK), Jeff Cooper (UK).
Contents:
• Introduction
• Plastic Waste Market
• Recycling and recovery of plastic waste, comparative data from the EU
• Case study: United Kingdom
• A globalized market
• Key market drivers
• Market vulnerability and volatility
• Main Cross-Border Waste Flows (Import-Export)
• Overview
• China
• Europe
• Hong Kong: Special Administrative Region of China
• Japan
• USA
• Southeast Asia
• Exports of Different Types of Polymers to China and Hong Kong
• United Kingdom
• Japan
• USA
• What Happens in China?
• China: Plastic Production and Demand
• Generation of Domestic Plastic Waste
• Imports of Plastic Waste
• Estimated Consumption of Plastic Waste in China
• Health and Environmental Considerations
• General considerations about plastic recycling in the context of weak environmental control capacity and legislation
• Challenges for Cross-Border Trade
• Forecasts