Some Chinese sources have suggested that exports of secondary raw materials, such as waste paper, could continue until 2021, letsrecycle.com reports.

Over the past year, China has implemented stricter quality controls and has announced plans to stop imports of paper waste by 2020. If enacted, a 2021 deadline would give Chinese mills more time to develop their operations overseas, the report noted.

Over the summer, China levied a round of tariffs against the U.S. that hit the recovered fiber materials market. The tariffs came in the wake of China’s announcement that it would ban most plastics and other recycled goods from the United States earlier this year.

China has been the top importer of U.S. recycled paper, importing 2.73 million tons of U.S. cardboard during the first half of 2018 and 1.4 million tons of all other U.S.-sourced recovered fiber.

letsrecycle.com has more details:

Over the past twelve months, strict quality controls have been implemented by the Chinese authorities alongside a plan to stop the imports of “waste” such as paper for recycling, (for example, used cardboard and over issue newspapers) by 2020. But, now there are suggestions from Chinese sources that the total ban on imports, if it is to happen, will not be imposed before 2021.

The decision, should it be confirmed, is seen as giving considerable extra breathing space for Chinese mill buyers of used cardboard and also for UK exporters to plan ahead for the ban. The market changes are of particular note to the UK as it has been, and still is, a major exporter of material to China, especially when compared to the rest of Europe.

Read the full article here.