China Tightens Recycling Import Rules
We have all seen the pictures of cities in China with air pollution so bad citizens have resorted to wearing masks. To help improve the environment, the Chinese government recently implemented new rules severely restricting the import of recycled plastics and recycled paper.
With the paper mill industry declining in the US, we have been shipping much of our baled paper to China, where high-quality recycling is made into products such as cereal boxes and shipping cartons.
Historically, China has accepted 4 to 5 percent impurities in bales of recycled materials. Now, China will only accept bales containing less than 1 percent of those impurities. It is a big change that will be challenging to meet. Read more.
