Import Ban Hampers Scrap Plastics Shipments to India

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The flow of scrap plastic from the U.S. to India witnessed significant decline in June this year. The drop in shipments was mainly on account of the ban announced by the Indian government on scrap plastics import into the country. The proposed ban is expected to take effect by end-August.

The initial announcement regarding the ban came in the month of March this year. Later, the government issued notification clarifying the implementation date of the ban. As per this notification, the ban is set to take effect August 31, 2019. The ban will cover most plastics under the 3915 tariff code, including PET, PE, PP and PS.

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Although there has been no further news on the ban after this, the government has continued to stress on the proposed changes in plastics policy. A recent press release by the Indian Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, while praising Basel countries on shipment regulations, mentioned about the upcoming prohibition of solid plastic waste imports into the country.

India has been the major export destination of scrap plastics from the U.S.