Joint Resolution Aims to Cut U.S. Scrap Plastic Exports

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): A California legislator, who introduced Assembly Joint Resolution 4, stated that the ratification of the Basel Convention by the country would restrict scrap plastic exports out of the U.S. The resolution urged Biden administration to act immediately to ratify the Basel Convention.

Under the Convention provisions, the Basel-party countries are prohibited from accepting scrap plastic shipments from the U.S., in accordance with the clause that prohibits trade of materials between parties and non-parties. However, trade data suggests that scrap plastic exports to Basel-party countries continued during the initial month of 2021 as well.

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The ratification of the agreement would force the country to take responsibility of its own scrap plastic waste. This in turn would see more domestic recycling facilities coming up, thus helping the country meet its rising demand for domestically produced postconsumer resin (PCR). In other words, the move would lead to greater domestic plastics processing.

The Basel Convention aims to limit global trade in hazardous wastes, especially between developed and developing countries. Incidentally, the U.S. is not part of the Convention, as it has not yet ratified the agreement.

Several lawmakers and environmental advocacy groups have extended support to the resolution introduced by Assemblymember Cristina Garcia.