German efforts seen as a threat

Journal Article · Tue Feb 16 23:00:00 EST 1993 · Chemical Week; (United States)

OSTI ID:6680946

Chynoweth, E

A number of European plastics groups are seeking European Commission action to halt shipments of postconsumer plastics that threaten to disrupt a number of countries' national recyling schemes. Countries affected include the U.K., Spain, Italy, France, and some in Eastern Europe. Funds raised through Germany's packaging collection and sorting initiative, Duales System Deutschland (DSD), allow the country's plastics recycling agency, VGK, to offer postconsumer plastics to recycling companies at zero cost, or even with payments reported to be up to DM270 ($164)/m.t. or DM600/m.t. for unsorted material. In contrast, in the U.K. recycling firms pay about [Brit pounds]150 ($210)/m.t. for postconsumer plastics that have been collected and sorted by local authorities. The Association of European Plastics Manufacturers (Brussels) wants the European Commission's proposed packaging directive to be amended to ensure level playing fields' are achieved. The British Plastics Federation (London) says that if U.K. plastics recycling firms turn to Germany as a source of waste it could impede the development of a U.K. domestically driven recycling culture.' The federation is compiling evidence to show that what it claims is subsidized' German waste is harmful to the U.K. industry and a distortion to the market. It will present its case to the commission's internal trade and competition departments within a month.

• OSTI ID: 6680946
• Journal Information: Chemical Week; (United States), Journal Name: Chemical Week; (United States) Vol. 152:6; ISSN CHWKA9; ISSN 0009-272X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320604* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Municipalities & Community Systems-- Municipal Waste Management-- (1980-)
COMPETITION
COST
EUROPE
EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
INDUSTRY
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
MANUFACTURERS
MARKET
MATERIALS
PACKAGING
PETROCHEMICALS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
PLASTICS
RECYCLING
SORTING
SYNTHETIC MATERIALS
TRADE