European plastics packaging manufacturers say they have mounting concerns about the growing export of plastics waste for recycling outside Europe and the knock-on effect on the region's recycling industry. Mr A Dangis, MD of the EU Plastics Converters says: "EU Member States should enforce stricter rules to stop plastics waste going to Asia and being landfilled. With the revision of the Packaging Waste Directive and the upcoming EU Enlargement, the problem will worsen, causing further difficulties for plastics recyclers and packaging manufacturers. Many recycling companies will become unviable simply because they cannot get sufficient access to EU-generated waste. This problem is evident." Dangis says while the EU has increased plastics packaging recycling targets from 15 to 22.5%, there is no requirement to verify that conditions in Asia are comparable.
