European Union bans the plastic waste export to non-OECD countries

With Regulation 2020/2174 the European Commission adopted new rules on the export, import and intra-EU shipment of plastic waste, which has banned all non-recyclable plastic waste being shipped to developing nations from 1 of January 2021. In the last decade, uncontrolled trade in plastic waste has increased, damaging both the environment and public health. The new Regulation’s main objective is to end the export to developing countries, which do not have the adequate capacity to process and dispose the plastic waste. As a result, the export of unsorted plastic waste to non-OECD countries will be completely banned. Exporting hard to recycle plastic waste and hazardous plastic waste from the EU to OECD countries will be subject to the “prior notification and consent procedure”. Under this procedure, both the importing and exporting countries must authorise the shipment. The procedure will be the same for those importing plastic waste into the EU. 
The Regulation’s main objective is also in line with the European Green Deal and the Circular Economy Action Plan, which will both increase the reuse of plastics in the industrial sector. Europe’s war on plastic is a rational scenario, since every year, Europeans generate 25 million ton of plastic waste, but less than a third (30%) is being recycled. Therefore, to reverse that direction, under the new plastic strategy, all plastic packaging in the EU will be recyclable by 2030, the consumption of single-use plastics will be reduced,