| There are two major reasons why China is of | | | | especially poor goods, you would hear: “This |
| great importance for the world’s recycling | | | | load can only go to China”. China’s |
| market: Firstly, the EU’s environmental policy | | | | recycling industry has effectively enabled the EU |
| prescribes ambitious quotas for plastics that the | | | | to ensure its ambitious recycling goals.China might |
| EU itself cannot fulfil. These regulations, for | | | | secure the disposal of the EU’s plastic waste, |
| example, dictate that 22.5 per cent of plastic | | | | but it does not want to remain the Western |
| packaging that is brought into circulation is | | | | world’s landfill. |
| recycled. These quotas are, in part, set even | | | | With increasing pressures on the quality of |
| higher by national law. Since there is insufficient | | | | secondary raw materials accompanied by growing |
| capacity within the EU, it needs to be found | | | | political pressure, there is heightened demand for |
| elsewhere, which leads to the second reason: | | | | good quality raw materials. Currently, only |
| China is quite simply the world’s largest | | | | companies that comply with the Chinese |
| consumer of secondary plastics. In recent years, | | | | Administration of Quality Supervision Inspection |
| China has revolutionised plastic recycling worldwide. | | | | and Quarantine(AQSIQ) for the import of waste |
| In the mid-90s, many types of waste could only | | | | into China can export to China. Goods exported |
| be sold at a negative market value as vendors | | | | are inspected by the China Commodity Inspection |
| were required to pay additional subsidies, whereas | | | | Corporation (CCIC). Increases in plastic imports go |
| today Chinese recyclers earn higher prices. | | | | hand in hand with market demand. In 2007, about |
| However, the unrestrained import of all kinds of | | | | 10 million Chinese people were employed in the |
| waste has also had its price. Frequently, for | | | | plastic recycling industry. |