While some recyclers in Europe and North America raise concerns on the export of large quantities of plastic scrap to China, a major U.S. plastics recycler is helping a Chinese company collect and recycle more plastic generated in China.
Romeoville, Ill.-based plastics recycler Parc Corp. is joining forces with a major recycler in Qingdao, Shandong province, to boost local material recycling and supply sustainable materials to the booming electronic appliances and auto sectors.
China is taking steps to strengthen its environmental protection with substantial amounts of government funding in place for recycling and other product end-of-life management facilities, Parc founder and President Kathy Xuan told Plastics News at the Chinaplas trade show in Guangzhou.
Qingdao’s New World Group, for one, has been selected by China’s National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Finance to create a national exemplary recycling base. When completed, the project is expected to be able to recycle 3 million units of electronics and appliances, 100,000 auto vehicles, 100,000 tons of tires, among other things.
In order to make the best use of the plastic from the items it recycles, New World has decided to have Parc’s wholly owned operation in Qingdao reprocess all of the plastic scrap and produce compounds for electronics, appliances and auto manufacturers in the region.
“We have known each other for a long time. Our businesses have both grown over the years. Now we are taking an important step to cooperate, complement each other and grow together,” Xuan said.
Parc will also help New World extend its global reach and establish partnerships with major international players.
“We are confident to see rapid growth of an effective and efficient domestic recycling industry in China,” She added. “Just like how plastics recycling evolved in North America and Europe during the last 50 years, but much faster.”
