Plastic recycling from Europe is being dumped in Asian waters
Up to 31 percent of plastic exported for recycling not recycled at all


Date:
June 30, 2020
Source:
National University of Ireland Galway
Summary:
New research has for the first time quantified the volume of
plastic from European countries (EU, UK, Switzerland and Norway)
that contributes to ocean littering from exported recycling.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
New research from NUI Galway and the University of Limerick has for the
first time quantified the volume of plastic from European countries
(EU, UK, Switzerland and Norway) that contributes to ocean littering
from exported recycling.


========================================================================== While European countries have developed world-leading waste management infrastructure, 46% of European separated plastic waste is exported
outside the country of origin. A large share of this plastic is
transported thousands of kilometres to countries with poor waste
management practices, largely located in Southeast Asia. Once in these countries, a large share of the waste is rejected from recycling streams
into overstretched local waste management systems that have been found
to contribute significantly to ocean littering.

This new research, published in the scientific journal Environment International, estimated the best-case, average, and worst-case scenarios
of ocean debris pathways from exported recycling in 2017. The results
estimated a range between 32,115 -- 180,558 tonnes, or 1 -- 7% of all
exported European polyethylene, which ended up in the ocean. Polyethylene
is one of the most common types of plastic in Europe, and the results
showed that countries such as the UK, Slovenia, and Italy are exporting
a higher share of plastic outside of Europe and see a higher share of
their recyclable plastic waste end up as ocean debris.

Speaking today, George Bishop, lead author of the study said: "The results indicate an important and previously undocumented pathway of plastic
debris entering the oceans, which will have considerable environmental
and social impacts on marine ecosystems and coastal communities."
Using detailed international trade data and data on waste management in destination countries, the study modelled the fate of all polyethylene
exported for recycling from Europe, accounting for different fates ranging
from successful conversion into recycled resins, or ending up as landfill, incineration, or ocean debris.

Dr David Styles, a lecturer at the University of Limerick and co-author, explains, "Given that such a large share of waste destined for recycling
is exported, with poor downstream traceability, this study suggests that
'true' recycling rates may deviate significantly from rates reported
by municipalities and countries where the waste originates. In fact,
our study found that up to 31% of the exported plastic wasn't actually
recycled at all." The study was part of the Science Foundation Ireland
funded, 'Innovative Energy Technologies for Bioenergy, Biofuels and a Sustainable Irish Bioeconomy: IETSBIO3' led by Professor Piet Lens,
Established Professor of New Energy Technologies at the National
University of Ireland, Galway.

Professor Lens added: "To successfully move towards a more circular
economy, European municipalities and waste management companies need to
be held accountable for the final fate of "recycled" waste. Our study highlights the lack of available data on plastic waste and the need to
consider extended audit trails, or "on-shoring" of recycling activities as
part of emerging regulations around trade in plastic waste." The authors caution that these findings should not discourage people to recycle as
it remains the best waste management treatment, environmentally speaking.

However, there is considerable work to be done to improve aspects of
these plastic recycling chains, to reduce the 'leakage' of these systems.


========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by
National_University_of_Ireland_Galway. Note: Content may be edited for
style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. George Bishop, David Styles, Piet N.L. Lens. Recycling of European
plastic is a pathway for plastic debris in the ocean. Environment
International, 2020; 142: 105893 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.105893 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/06/200630103603.htm

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