The Recycling Association Calls for Quality First : Chinese Customs Using X-Ray Vison to Ensure Quality of Paper for Recycling

Chinese Customs authorities are now using x-ray machines to check every container entering the country, according to UK paper recycling trade group the Recycling Association.

The organisation warned that high quality standards must be met by exporters of materials to China, and that as part of the Chinese National Sword programme, which is running from 1 March 2017 until 30 November 2017, customs officials have been told to focus on the quality of waste paper and plastics.

The examinations will also be checking the level of non-fibre impurities and excessive moisture in bales of paper.

The assoication added that all containers are being checked using x-ray machines, and where these are not available, then the containers will be opened for examination. All containers will also be weighed to verify their weights.

“The National Sword programme shows the importance of our Quality First campaign, and we will be pushing the quality message strongly at our Quality First conference in London on 5 April.“ commented The Recycling Association chief executive Simon Ellin.

“The UK competes with other countries around the world to provide China with fibre and plastics and we have to ensure that the material is not only legally compliant, but is the best available so that we will still have a market for material we cannot use in the UK,“ he continued.

Ellin went on to note that the organisation’s Quality First campaign is calling for the adoption of EN643 as the standard, which only allows for 1.5% out-throw and said that National Sword shows the need for this standard to be adopted.

Cycle Link UK managing director, Craig Robinson added: “We are warning our suppliers of these heightened inspections and letting them know that their containers will undergo an x-ray or visual inspection.“

He said that this should be a warning to the UK that the Chinese are not prepared to accept substandard material and that it isn’t just about them receiving material they don’t want, but it is also a public health issue when it comes to moisture.

“Chinese customs have told us that excessive moisture on paper bales can lead to bacterial and fungal problems and they do not want to be importing wet material into their country,” concluded Robinson

The Quality First Conference is taking place on 5 April 2017 at BPP University Law School in London.

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