U.S. companies exported 510 million pounds of scrap plastic during the first six months of 2022. | Piyathep/Shutterstock
The U.S. continued to ship less scrap plastic overseas during the first half of this year, federal trade data shows.
Canada will no longer allow the manufacture of stir sticks as of December 2022, part of a wider plastics prohibition. | Wan Fahmy Redzuan/Shutterstock
Canada has banned a wide range of single-use plastics, effective by the end of the year for most items, and is looking to implement new labeling laws as well.
A European analysis shows 9 million metric tons of discarded plastic was collected for sorting, out of 30 million produced in 2021. | Muhammad Azman/Shutterstock
European recyclers are struggling to get enough material, even as exports of plastics decline and values rise.
Over 260 million pounds of scrap plastics were exported from the U.S. in the first quarter of 2022. | nattanan726/Shutterstock
The U.S. continues to export less and less scrap plastic overseas, the latest trade figures show.
Timeline final update: March 22, 2022
Fewer scrap plastics were exported last year compared to 2020, continuing a downward trend. | Vacancylizm/Shutterstock
U.S. scrap plastic exports fell by 12% in 2021, even though some countries, such as India and Mexico, brought in a whole lot more material.
Shipping company CMA CGM didn’t specify exactly which categories of plastic scrap or waste the prohibition would apply to. | EQRoy/Shutterstock
CMA CGM Group, the third-largest ocean shipping company in the world, announced it will no longer carry post-use plastics on its ships as of June 1.
The U.S. exported 288.3 million pounds of scrap plastic during the third quarter, down 24% year over year. | 28 November Studio/Shutterstock
U.S. scrap plastic exports continued a precipitous year-over-year decline moving into the second half of the year, with several large destinations substantially reducing imports.
The U.S. Secretary of State has indicated U.S. support for a global plastics pollution treaty. | Gerain0812/Shutterstock
The U.S. has signaled support for a worldwide agreement to reduce marine plastic pollution. Meanwhile, the EU is drafting stricter export rules, a watchdog group is mapping plastic dump sites, and researchers shared findings on the greenhouse gas impacts of virgin plastic shipments.
Global shipping constraints are impacting recycled plastics traders in unique ways. | Creativa Images / Shutterstock
Strife in the global shipping sector continues to impact North American recycling, with companies experiencing higher rates as well as decreased shipping availability and reliability.