TURKEY
Ankara reverses import ban on PE waste / Stricter oversight of recyclers
 Some processors in the country have turned to recyclate as a substitute for virgin resin (Photo: Wikipedia) |
Turkish media reports say the country has lifted its ban on polyethylene waste imports, but all domestic recyclers will now face reviews, according to local plastics association Pagev (Istanbul; www.pagev.org).
The interest group said each of the country’s 1,350 recyclers will have their licenses checked, and import rates are to be based on the capacity of a shop’s extrusion equipment instead of the throughput of crushing units. The reasoning is said to be that the extrusion process requires greater investment and represents a stage that adds more value. Pagev noted that Turkey’s Ministry of Commerce also plans to require a letter of credit obligation for recyclers and “more environmentally friendly recycling”, and the country is set to institute a chip-based tracking system for waste.
Turkey announced a ban on PE scrap in May 2021 (see Plasteurope.com of 27.05.2021) after Greenpeace issued a scathing report on recycling practices in the country ( see Plasteurope.com of 25.05.2021). Turkish plastics processors announced earlier this year that they would use recyclate when possible and forego virgin material, a scheme that reportedly lowered prices for new resins (see Plasteurope.com of 29.04.2021).
Pagev president Yavuz Eroğlu said he met with government ministers to create guidelines that led to a repeal of the ban. “The new regulations, which aim to reduce abuse by enforcing active control, have been a positive step for the sector. With the enactment of the legislation, the number of companies importing waste will decrease.” By introducing “active control” criteria for PE waste imports, raw material prices would go down, and inflation would be positively affected, he said.
According to Pagev, In 2020, 438,000 t of polyethylene waste was imported to the country, and since these were purchased at affordable prices, products were delivered to consumers at affordable prices as well. Petkim's total PE capacity of 446,000 t meets 20% of the domestic PE need – the ban eliminated a source of raw material as large as this capacity.
The interest group said each of the country’s 1,350 recyclers will have their licenses checked, and import rates are to be based on the capacity of a shop’s extrusion equipment instead of the throughput of crushing units. The reasoning is said to be that the extrusion process requires greater investment and represents a stage that adds more value. Pagev noted that Turkey’s Ministry of Commerce also plans to require a letter of credit obligation for recyclers and “more environmentally friendly recycling”, and the country is set to institute a chip-based tracking system for waste.
Turkey announced a ban on PE scrap in May 2021 (see Plasteurope.com of 27.05.2021) after Greenpeace issued a scathing report on recycling practices in the country ( see Plasteurope.com of 25.05.2021). Turkish plastics processors announced earlier this year that they would use recyclate when possible and forego virgin material, a scheme that reportedly lowered prices for new resins (see Plasteurope.com of 29.04.2021).
Pagev president Yavuz Eroğlu said he met with government ministers to create guidelines that led to a repeal of the ban. “The new regulations, which aim to reduce abuse by enforcing active control, have been a positive step for the sector. With the enactment of the legislation, the number of companies importing waste will decrease.” By introducing “active control” criteria for PE waste imports, raw material prices would go down, and inflation would be positively affected, he said.
According to Pagev, In 2020, 438,000 t of polyethylene waste was imported to the country, and since these were purchased at affordable prices, products were delivered to consumers at affordable prices as well. Petkim's total PE capacity of 446,000 t meets 20% of the domestic PE need – the ban eliminated a source of raw material as large as this capacity.
14.07.2021 Plasteurope.com 1079 [248105-0]
Published on 14.07.2021