Question for written answer E-001888-19
to the Council
Rule 130
Pascal Arimont (PPE)

As China has imposed a ban on the import of various types of plastic waste, or has revoked the corresponding licences held by its importers, operators from the Union have instead started exporting such waste to other Asian countries, particularly Malaysia, Vietnam, India and Indonesia.

According to media reports, however, in those countries waste originating from EU Member States is constantly ending up at illegal and uncontrolled waste dumps and is either incinerated in the open air, releasing toxic gases harmful to health — to mention just one of the problems that this causes — or simply left lying on the ground, causing damage to plants, animals and groundwater.

The EU’s plastics strategy and higher rates of recycling were supposed to reduce the quantity of waste exported abroad. Nevertheless, the practices described above should be halted as soon as possible.

1. What scope does the Council have for prohibiting the export of waste when third countries cannot guarantee the traceability and/or proper treatment of imported waste?

2. What measures will the Council take to prevent trafficking in waste in general?