Worcester, MA – We have been hearing more and more across the waste and recycling world about how recycling practices will be changing drastically in the near future.

This is all happening due to the market effects of China’s scrap import policies that were implemented in September of this year. One of the reasons for China’s effort in these policies is to keep as much contaminated or hazardous materials from being shipped to their country (not just specifically by the U.S.).

In CNN’s article from September 11, 2017 ‘China to U.S.: Please stop sending us your junk’ is a telling sign that the future of recycling and waste distribution is going to be in some type of trouble.

“Beijing notified the World Trade Organization in July that it plans to ban the import of 24 varieties of solid waste, including types of plastic and unsorted paper commonly sent from the U.S.

China said that the ban would take effect from September, giving American companies little time to prepare. ISRI (U.S. Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries) estimates that roughly a fifth of the trade is at risk. The announcement has made U.S. recyclers that trade with China very nervous.” Scrap (recycling) and waste is the sixth largest U.S. export to China also according to the CNN article mentioned above.

As reported by WasteDIVE July 19, 2017, the ISRI President Robin Wiener said the ban could have a ‘devastating impact’ on the recycling industry due to its economic implications. “If implemented, a ban on scrap imports will result in the loss of tens of thousands of jobs and closure of many recycling businesses throughout the United States,” said Wiener. “A ban on imports of scrap commodities into China would be catastrophic to the recycling industry.”

NOTE: Businesses in Worcester, MA can reach out to Waste Focus directly for more information on how these changes may affect your business. Please contact us for more information.

After reading multiple articles on the subject, one month later there are already effects being seen and felt in the U.S. The stock and commodities market is affected which will almost inevitably drive up recycling pricing in the very near future.

Oregon is reportedly one of the states being hardest hit so far by the bans; they have already had to shut down some local programs due to their dependency on the Chinese recycling markets. Recycling providers in Oregon have also been reporting that they have so much recyclable material stored, they have resorted to stacking bales outside. Their fear is that all of these recyclables will become worthless and will eventually end up in landfills.

Let’s hope that this won’t be the end of the story or the end result – we should always do our best to keep recycling as individuals, as a part our companies and as part of our communities here in Worcester MA.