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<p>The Government wants to export less waste and make sure the waste we do have to
export is handled properly. As set out in the Resources and Waste Strategy, the government
is putting in place measures to improve the quality of the materials we collect for
recycling as well as creating domestic markets for these materials. The government
recently published four consultations which will support these ambitions: consistency
in materials collected for recycling, reform of the packaging waste producer responsibility
system, a deposit return scheme for drinks containers and a tax to encourage the use
of recycled material in plastic packaging. In addition, we will seek to tighten controls
on exports of all waste, and are exploring a range of measures including increasing
monitoring of international waste shipments, improved provision for waste repatriation,
and charging higher fees to improve compliance with waste shipment controls.</p><p>
</p><p>While waste is a commodity, and there is a global market for secondary materials,
it must be and is subject to strict controls. Under EU legislation non-OECD countries
elect the controls to be applied in respect of waste exports to their countries from
the EU, choosing either to prohibit specific wastes, require prior written approval,
apply their own national procedures or no control measures. The authorities in countries
that receive waste from the EU need to be clear about the types of waste they will
accept and the waste import procedures they require exporters in the EU to adhere
to.</p><p> </p><p>The EU Waste Shipment Regulations impose strict conditions on the
types of waste that can be exported, and set out procedures that waste exporters must
follow. They prohibit the export from the EU of waste for disposal to a country outside
the European Free Trade Area (EFTA). Regulation 21 of the UK Transfrontier Shipment
of Waste Regulations makes it an offence to transport waste destined for disposal
to countries outside the EFTA.</p><p> </p><p>The UK has a robust approach to enforcing
these controls. In 2017 the Environment Agency (EA) inspected more than 1,000 shipping
containers and returned 367 of these to their site of loading. The EA stopped over
7,000 tonnes of waste at ports and prevented nearly 9,000 tonnes of waste from reaching
ports.</p><p> </p>
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