BPI’s McLatchie Slams the Illegal Exporters of Plastic Scrap

At the formal ceremony for the opening of BPI’s latest 25,000 tonne p.a. waste farm plastics recycling line, held at the BPI Recycled factory in Rhymney on 9th March, the Chairman of British Polythene Industries – Cameron McLatchie – ‘slammed’ the activities of illegal waste exporters during his key note address to an audience of more than 110 guests which included officials from the Government of Wales, the Presidents of the NFU Cymru, the Farmers Union of Wales, Wrap Cymru, together with representatives from the Welsh recycling, industrial and waste sectors.

McLatchie accused the illegal exporters – who are exporting heavily contaminated waste farm plastics as a ‘green waste’ – of potentially undermining the entire UK structure for exporting recovered plastics, for recycling overseas.

McLatchie said: “Because of the high levels of non plastic contamination contained in waste farm films – dirt, sand, straw, plus general farmyard waste and effluents – DEFRA and the EA have rightly classified this waste as “notifiable” under the Waste Regulations and this waste should only be collected with appropriate paperwork, and exported from the UK after notifying the EA.

“Sadly, since we approved the expenditure for this facility (£4.5 million), the export of this type of waste from the UK has increased, as waste exporters flout the requirements by ignoring their responsibility to notify this waste to the EA. This could have serious consequences for the UK, where we currently meet EU recycling targets by exporting “green” waste to the Far East.

“If that export trade in green waste were to be compromised by the inclusion of notifiable waste, then the export of all waste shipments could be compromised, if for any reason the transport of waste from farms was to be suspended for a period due to health or disease fears.

“Already, before we are in operation here at Rhymney, and at our existing agricultural films recycling facility in Dumfries, we are struggling to get waste at an economic price, as waste exporters move farm waste to the Far East. Apart from the issue of not complying with the Transfrontier Shipment Regulations by failing to notify the EA, I fail to see how they are saving the planet by shipping containers of dirt and other contaminants half-way around the world.

“I would urge DEFRA, the EA and those responsible in the Welsh Assembly to examine closely the illegal activities in this area of the export of waste, to ensure that UK facilities are supported, and that the legitimate export of green waste continues without risk.”  

Commenting on this address, Mike Baxter, Director for External Affairs BPI, said: “Cameron is spot on with his speech. We know that a number of major exporters of plastic films waste are including heavily contaminated agricultural farm plastics in their exports of “green waste”.

“Not only is this activity clearly illegal, it also undermines the hard work and efforts of UK collectors who are trying to offer farmers a sustainable option for the disposal of their waste farm films under the ‘red tractor’ scheme. I would urge all farmers and local collectors of waste farm films to question exactly how, and where, their waste is being recycled.”

- ENDS -

Image:    Cameron McLatchie.jpg 

For more information on this story, please contact Wayne Mohammed or Emma Macey at PRECISION on 0161 638 8717 / 8718 or e-mail: wayne@precision-online.co.uk/ emma@precision-online.co.uk

Alternatively, please contact Mike Baxter, Director of External Affairs, British Polythene Industries on 01773 533600 or mbaxter@promopack.co.uk

Editors’ notes:

• British Polythene Industries (BPI) is a leading European supplier of polythene film products.

• BPI is the largest recycler of polythene film waste in Europe recycling over 70,000 tonnes of post-use polythene material from commercial, retail, industrial and agricultural markets.

• BPI is a global supplier of high performing agricultural and horticultural films to over 60 counties worldwide from manufacturing sites in the UK, Belgium and Canada.

• The BPI Group is a major supplier of packaging for the protection of food and other goods.

• BPI's products, which are marketed under well-known and established brand names including Visqueen™ (construction films), Silotite® (silage stretch film), Green Sack® (100% recycled refuse sacks) and Supreme™ (stretchwrap) provide high performing, cost-effective polythene solutions across a range of industries.

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