A difficult part of exporting plastic scrap to China is figuring out exactly what you can and cannot import. For most plastic brokers and dealers, it takes years of experience and trial and error before getting a clear answer. While I cannot cover this topic in a short article, a thing to be careful about is reflective (metallic) pieces or parts inside your plastic scrap loads.

To import recyclable plastics into China, the CCIC inspectors will check for metallic content. For instance, for WEEE bales (baled computer / television cases), the inspector may decline your load based on high metallic content from excessive screws, wires, and possibly computer boards. For loads that are neither plastic or metals, it is difficult to classify its content making importation nearly impossible.

Plastics with reflective surfaces can mean trouble for inspections. Recently, I had a client send me specs and pictures of sequin cut-outs (pictured above). Inside the bright and shiny cover is 100% clear PET, excellent for producing polyester fibers. Although I was offered good prices (and good volume) for this commodity, it’s something that cannot be legally imported.