Original by Dr. Steve Wong
November 14, 2024
At a recent United Nations Environment Programme conference, I discovered that some African countries have reported that their export of processed recycled and renewable materials has been impacted and restricted due to increasingly stringent regulations. Developed countries are also facing disruptions in the supply and demand of recycled resources, such as waste plastics and other materials labeled as “waste,” due to transit restrictions. This situation has led to many factories shutting down due to a lack of recyclable raw materials. Companies that rely on recycled materials to promote a circular economy cannot fulfill their social responsibilities, and recyclable resources from exporting countries are eventually discarded.
I provided an example from Norway, where ropes and fishing nets used by the fishing industry are classified as “waste”; thus, their export cannot be the same as for general cargo. In reality, in South East Asia, these materials are considered reusable, repairable, and recyclable resources. However, in Norway, these materials are discarded in the natural environment due to the inability to process them or their high costs. Similar situations exist in Australia and other countries.
Another example is waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). There are over 100 types of plastics in these devices, most of which are PS, ABS, PP, and PE, accounting for 50% of recycled materials. These materials are relatively easy to recycle, while other recyclable plastics have high recycling costs. Because they contain additives and glass fibers to enhance mechanical properties, their performance is weakened after recycling. Using recycled materials in Europe also faces challenges. Furthermore, Europe’s population is about 750 million, while Asia’s population is close to 5 billion, meaning that the primary market for recycled materials is Asia.
The automotive industry also faces similar situations. Large quantities of waste and defective parts need sorting before recycling. Still, developed countries lack manpower and application demand, especially in countries with wages exceeding $500 per ton. Thus, old car parts often cannot be effectively recycled.
I have noticed that most people, especially legislators, government officials, and the media, often label everything as “waste.” Once labeled as “waste,” these items cannot or are difficult to import or export, making it challenging to incorporate them into a circular economy for reuse.
Southeast Asian governments lack a deep understanding of our industry or are influenced by the public’s perception that the recycling industry pollutes the environment, which is often reported in the media. As a result, they ban the import of recyclable materials from overseas. This is a double standard because domestic recycling is not restricted. When we reflect on this, the phenomenon is indeed quite contradictory. We understand there are unscrupulous recyclers, but law enforcement agencies should punish these individuals, not the entire industry.