(Washington, DC) - The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) today announced it filed comments with the World Trade Organization (WTO) in response to China’s intent to ban certain scrap imports. As the Voice of the Recycling Industry ™, ISRI supports free and fair trade and opposes measures that restrict the free flow of specification-grade commodities around the world. In an effort to prevent imported waste from polluting the environment, China’s ban on “solid waste” will have a negative economic impact on the recycling industries in the United States and China, the manufacturing sector in China that relies on these highly valuable commodities, and the environmental sustainability opportunities from the use of recyclable materials in China. ISRI is requesting a revision of the policy to avoid a disruption in trade as well as clarification of the ban’s scope.
Excerpts from ISRI’s response follow (full text available):
“ISRI fully supports the efforts of the Chinese Government to improve environmental protection and standards within its domestic recycling infrastructure. However, we disagree that a ban on the import of specification‐grade scrap materials will help with those efforts. …
“For recycled commodities such as recovered paper and fiber, plastic scrap, and copper scrap, China accounts for more than half of the world’s total imports. Thus, any change in Chinese policy concerning the import of these commodities will be quickly felt around the world. …
“There is a need to distinguish scrap from waste within the Notification, as well as in the underlying regulations and related notices issued by the Chinese, in order to properly identify those materials for which the Chinese Government intends to truly impose a ban, while at the same time providing clarity for the exporting community as to what products are permissible for import. …
“The U.S. recycling industry stands ready to help China to prevent deficient practices that harm the physical environment in China. The U.S. recycling industry also supports the Government of China’s efforts to improve domestic collection, processing and distribution of scrap materials and welcomes the opportunity to provide information and training on operational best practices, including RIOS™. U.S. industry can share information and analysis of market conditions and how to develop supply chains to ensure the efficient use of scrap materials, especially with environmental sustainability in mind. We also recommend that the Chinese Government officially recognize industry‐wide standards as outlined in the ISRI Specifications Circular.”
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The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc. (ISRI) is the "Voice of the Recycling Industry™." ISRI represents more than 1,100 companies in 21 chapters in the U.S. and 35 countries that process, broker, and consume scrap commodities, including metals, paper, plastics, glass, rubber, electronics, and textiles. With headquarters in Washington, DC, the Institute provides education, advocacy, safety and compliance training, and promotes public awareness of the vital role recycling plays in the U.S. economy, global trade, the environment and sustainable development. Generating nearly $117 billion annually in U.S. economic activity, the scrap recycling industry provides nearly half a million Americans with good jobs.