European umbrella trade association EuRIC has said that EU decision makers should introduce mandatory targets for recycled material in new products if a ban on exports goes ahead.
The European Commission and European Parliament has proposed that new EU waste shipment rules should limit exports to non-EU countries.
But EuRIC has warned that indiscriminate restrictions will suppress demand for high-value recycled materials such as metals and paper. It does not oppose exports of problematic waste outside of Europe such as mixed plastics however.
EuRIC secretary general Emmanuel Katrakis said: “If MEPs want to ensure waste is recycled in Europe, they must enshrine binding targets for the use of recycled materials in intermediate products such as metals, paper and plastics.
“If export prohibitions go ahead, high-value materials destined for recycling will instead pile up in landfill or end up incinerated. Polluting extracted raw materials will have an advantage over recycling in the absence of appropriate market conditions.”
