MATERIALS & COMMODITIES
Industry leader Nevis Resources give plastics market update
NEVIS Resources Limited, Durham-based scrap plastic broker, have responded positively to the Environment Agency’s current drive to increase the quality of scrap plastics exported from the UK. Nevis, who employ 15 staff in the UK, are experiencing signifi cant year-on-year growth, and are a leading plastic scrap broker for the European market. The advice from Nevis to suppliers of plastic scrap is to double check material quality such as ensuring no dirt, and make sure no other contamination is present within the baled plastic scrap prior to shipment. The momentum for the EA drive on quality is due to the large amount of press coverage lately regarding the serious issue of plastics contaminating the oceans.
Lance Newton from Nevis, said:
“Plastics contaminating the seas is an environmental disaster, which must be addressed quickly. It’s a problem with no easy answers, though of course stemming the fl ow of plastics going into the oceans should be the fi rst step.”
With the northern European waste sector heavily regulated in terms of traceability and the recycling and disposal of plastic waste, it is diffi cult to argue a scenario whereby any changes that may be made to plastics recycling in the UK would make a signifi cant impact on the level of plastic in the oceans. Virtually all plastic items used in the UK either end up being recycled into new plastic items – used to power waste-to- energy plants – or landfi lled in the UK. In less developed countries and highly- populated areas, disposal of plastic waste is less regulated. Households and businesses in third-world countries have the opportunity to use local rivers and streams as their preferred waste disposal outlet. This will be a challenge to stop, but nonetheless this route is likely to remain a source of plastics entering the environment. Regarding the international market for scrap plastics, several Asian countries have imposed strict controls on scrap plastic imports from the West. This is thought of as a reaction to the eff ective closing of the Chinese market to plastic
scrap imports, which in turn led to an oversupply situation for other Asian countries involved in plastics recycling. These countries are now in a position whereby they allow only the import of the higher grades of plastic scrap, yet are still able to satisfy the appetite of their plastic recycling industries.
match the tonnage of plastic waste generated”, as Lance explained.
He added: “Take polypropylene (PP) bulk bags for example. This time last year, PP was being recycled into pellets in Asia, but now have a restricted market. Many grades of scrap plastic previously recycled are now inevitably destined for waste to energy, or landfi ll.” Regarding long term, Nevis Resources are optimistic that Europe will increase its plastic recycling capacity, but in the short term, UK companies may fi nd it challenging to route much of their scrap plastics to the recycling sector.
Nevis Resources Limited
Nevis Resources pay top prices for a wide range of scrap plas� cs
We collect directly from supplier sites throughout the UK and Ireland
“Within Europe, plastic recycling capacity has some way to go to
Please contact us for a quote on: T: 01388 771570
LDPE Supermarket Film @SkipHireMag PVC Rigids
E:
info@nevis-resources.co.uk www.nevis-resources.co.uk
SHWM December, 2018 59
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