The British Plastics Federation (BPF) is holding a seminar to investigate the future of plastics recycling the United Kingdom and what impacts Brexit and new Chinese recycling rules will have on the local industry.
The seminar, dubbed "recycling the unrecyclable" on Nov. 23, in London's Wesley Hotel, will provide recyclers with a forum to explore the threats and opportunities that the recycling sector can expect in the coming years.
A major part of the event will be a panel debate examining the impact of the new "National Sword" rules from China on the U.K.'s recycling businesses.
The panel debate will feature industry experts Deborah Sacks from the Department for International Trade, Bernard Chase of WRAP and Stuart Foster from RECOUP.
China announced 18 July that it would ban imports of scrap plastics and other "foreign garbage" recyclables by the end of the year.
“The plastics recycling sector is currently faced with many challenges but also greater opportunities,” said Bernard Chase of the industry group WRAP.
These, he added, included a combination of increasing concern over plastics in the marine environment coupled with China's proposed ban on certain grades of plastic packaging waste.
The paradigm shift, according to Chase, offer U.K. plastics recyclers “a unique and lasting opportunity” to re-occupy the recycling scene.
The seminar will also feature presentations on innovative new techniques.