Both USA and Europe rely on export of plastic waste for recycling in Asia. Several EPRO members are dependent on exports too. As China has restricted their imports, many exporters have hoped that other countries will replace China. Chinese investors with help from the Chinese Government have also invested huge amounts in recycling capacities outside China. However, also these countries are now about to close their doors, including Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand. Who is next?

It is thus important for the countries and the global market to develop alternatives.

At the same time UNIDO and their regional initiative (www.switchmed.eu) funded by the European Union invites EPRO to take part at Work Shops in Marocco and Tunisia as part of their program to develop new recycling capacities in those countries. EPRO is also invited by the Indian Plastic Industry to share our knowledge on plastic recycling and EPR at conferences in Mumbai and Delhi on the 27 and 28 September. These invitations are examples on the huge demand for knowledge and experience from Europe and an increasing interest to divert plastic waste from landfills and oceans to recycling plants. A great signal! The world wants the experts to share and export their competence. There is a global urge to share experience in order to build up systems and capacities strongly needed by all countries. It is the right way to export our competence as a long term investment rather than to export our waste to solve the waste problem just for now.