The Canadian Plastic Industry Association has begun documenting market options for Canadian companies that have been exporting waste plastics to China.
As much as 21 percent of recovered plastics in Canada has been shipped overseas, with China as a main destination, according to a 2015 study commissioned by CPIA.
Mississauga, Ontario-based CPIA is creating an online, confidential tool where companies can report information about plastic loads having no export market or loads rejected by China.
"Recyclers like to keep their marketing confidential," said Joe Hruska, CPIA vice president of sustainability, in a phone interview. "We want to know what's affected. The online tool will make it easier to organize efforts.
"Data is power," Hruska stressed. Data collected from the online tool should show the degree to which Canadian companies are affected and what domestic capacity is available to process waste plastics being rejected offshore.
Hruska said CPIA is working closely with the North American Plastics Recycling Alliance to coordinate its efforts. CPIA also is collaborating with the American Chemistry Council, Association of Plastic Recyclers and the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries.