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China, however, has been moving ahead with its restrictions. Of key importance is a revision to a law ‘on the prevention and control of environmental pollution by solid waste’ which came into effect on 1 January 2021, banning the import of all materials the Chinese Ministry of Ecology and Environment classifies as ‘solid waste’, including recovered nonwovens fibre. See here.

Until more detailed guidance is released, however, it is still unclear whether this will affect imports of high-grade PET flakes, which are a nonwovens input. High-grade flakes were excluded from a partial import ban on solid waste implemented in January 2018 due to high-grade flakes being classified as a processed industrial product as opposed to scrap. Needlepunched nonwovens made from recycled PET are manufactured in China for a range of fields, such as bags, agriculture, and face masks, and are marketed with claims spanning from eco-friendliness and breathability to antibacterial and anti-tear.

“This time, it is still unclear whether the A, B and C class of clean PET flakes will be included in the solid waste,” says Hangzhou-based fibre consultancy Zhejiang Huarui Information Consulting. “It is expected that the importers will suspend the imports in the short term, to wait a clear direction.”

Continue reading: https://www.wtin.com/article/2021/march/080321/examining-legislation-governing-single-use-plastic-bans/