While German plastic waste exports are falling sharply overall, the volume of controversial exports to Asia is increasing, according to an industry estimate. A total of around 107,000 tons were shipped to several countries on this continent this year, 6,000 more than in 2021, the BDE disposal association said on request.
These exports account for around 15 percent of all German plastic waste exports. Compared to the past decade, this is a small proportion, in 2012 it was still 71 percent – at that time 1.065 million tons were brought to Asia.
“Exports to Asia have fallen by a remarkable 90 percent within 10 years,” says the head of the association, Peter Kurth. Among the ten most important buyers of German plastic waste, Malaysia is fourth with a share of eight percent (61,000 tons). Indonesia comes in 8th place with three percent (25,000 tons). Turkey (2nd place, 93,000 tons) is assigned to Europe in the statistics. It is unclear why exports to Asian countries picked up slightly this year.
Total amount of exports decreases
While Asia exports rose from a low level, the total volume of plastic waste exports this year fell by 11 percent to 727,000 tons, according to BDE data. That was the lowest value since 2005. The association justified this by saying that domestic demand for plastic had grown. According to the information, the volume of plastic exports has roughly halved within ten years.
When it comes to exports, the waste is treated as a raw material from which new products are to be made – whether plastic bottles, street bollards, flower pots, toilet lids, polyester clothes or packaging. The figures for the period from January to October 2022 come from the Federal Statistical Office, the BDE has extrapolated the last two months of the year and thus comes up with an estimated total value.
Garbage exports to Asia are a hot topic. Pictures of German plastic waste in the wild in poorer countries caused sharp criticism a few years ago. However, it was unclear at which point in the international trade chain the move to illegality took place and the waste was not understood as a raw material that was used, but disposed of as garbage on illegal landfills. The backers took advantage of the fact that the control mechanisms in poorer countries are sometimes weak and can be circumvented quite easily with criminal energy.
Shift away from China
A few years ago, the garbage from the western world rotting in the wild in Asia led to a rethink in China. In 2018, Beijing tightened the standards so much that imports were effectively stopped. After that, export flows shifted to other Asian countries, and Malaysia temporarily became the largest buyer of German plastic waste. Volumes also increased in India, Indonesia and Vietnam.
In the meantime, however, Asia only plays a minor role in German waste exports. However, the small plus at a relatively low level this year could be an indication that Asia will remain a significant buyer of German plastic waste in the future.
The exports are a thorn in the side of environmentalists. Greenpeace’s Viola Wohlgemuth speaks of a “global plastic crisis” that is being exacerbated by exports. There are still illegal landfills in Asia. The “grey areas” and “mafia-like structures” in waste exports cannot be effectively controlled with the current official means. Therefore, these exports should be banned as a matter of principle, says Wohlgemuth. “Only when the packaging waste stays in Germany will sufficient recycling capacities be built up here and packaging designed for real recyclability right from the start.”
Environmentalist: Problem is getting worse
With regard to Asian exports, the environmentalist says that while it’s good that the volume has gotten much smaller compared to the bad past decade. However, she is concerned that the volume has even increased slightly compared to the previous year. “This shows that Germany’s waste industry continues to rely on Asia and that the problem is perpetuating instead of disappearing.”
The BDE is also in favor of effectively combating illegal waste exports. “It is in the interest of the entire waste disposal industry to fight and rule out illegal activities as best as possible,” says association president Kurth. “Only in this way would the acceptance of necessary and sensible waste exports increase.”
In principle, however, it is good if as much plastic waste as possible remains in Germany in order to use it as a recycling raw material in this country and to make the domestic economy less dependent on other raw material imports. However, Kurth is skeptical about a general ban on non-European exports. “That would not be expedient, after all, in many cases the export of waste is a prerequisite for recycling it to be successful.”
