PLASTICS at Wattle Range Council’s resource recovery centres are being sent to landfill as councils across the country grapple with China’s ban on foreign waste imports.
New import quotas came into effect in China in January, restricting the volume and type of waste material that can be accepted into the country.
Wattle Range Council’s two resource recovery centres in Penola and Millicent, in addition to the three waste transfer stations in Glencoe, Beachport and Furner, have seen their co-mingling recycling removed and replaced with a separate bin for paper and cardboard.
Council engineering services director Peter Halton said China’s decision to ban bales of recycled materials with more than 1pc impurities was both a “local and a national issue”.
“The Chinese Government has basically made it illegal to accept what they consider contaminated waste,” he said.
“Local producers cannot process plastics to the level of contamination China will accept and it’s now deemed to sit in the waste.
“At this stage, we have to look at other alternatives.
“We’re hoping the industry can come up with a source for plastics to be recycled.
“Realistically, there’s not great margins in it so it’s not sustainable.”
Traditionally, most of Australia’s recyclables have been sorted domestically before being exported to South East Asian countries, with China being one of the largest importers.
Since January, Mount Gambier-based Green Triangle Recyclers has refused to accept co-mingled recycling and plastics from council’s five waste transfer stations.
All plastics processed at the sites are being directed to landfill as they are unable to be accepted and processed locally.
Mr Halton said co-mingled recyclables collected through kerbside services are currently still being accepted by Green Triangle Recyclers due to existing contractual arrangements.
However, Mr Halton said it was highly likely increased recyclables processing would pose a financial risk of up to $38,000 to council over the next 12 months.
“We’re very much expecting a cost increase, there’s no doubt,” he said.
“Whether that’s long-term or medium-term, we’re not sure at this stage.”
Currently, council pays $118 per tonne for the disposal of co-mingled recyclables.
Mr Halton said the figure had the potential to rise to $140 per tonne over the next year due to plastics being handled as a contaminated rather than a viable product.
He said council was working closely with contractors and the Limestone Coast Local Government Association to minimise costs and identify regional solutions.
“Plastics are currently being stockpiled by recycling contractors, but the question now is if there is going to be a local market for it,” he said.
“As an association and from a regional point of view we are saying the industry needs to take this on as an opportunity.”
Federal Environment Minister Josh Frydenberg is hosting a meeting of state and territory environment ministers tomorrow to discuss China’s decision to stop accepting foreign waste.
