EPR body ‘urgently seeks’ recycling capacity for big bags

Valipac, the Belgian extended producer responsibility (EPR) organisation for industrial packaging, is warning of a capacity problem in recycling two plastic waste streams: 6 000 tonnes of big bags and at least 10 000 tonnes of coloured film.

Until now, these streams have been processed in non-OECD countries. However, with stricter European rules on waste shipments (Waste Shipment Regulation) set to enter into force in November 2026, it is currently proving particularly difficult to find sufficient recyclers in OECD countries that can process these streams into regranulate.

As a result, says Valipac, a growing volume of plastic packaging waste risks not receiving sustainable treatment, with incineration as the end point. ‘This puts pressure on the entire chain for the processing of industrial plastic packaging and on overall recycling performance.’

Growing dilemma

As of 21 May, new administrative obligations apply to the export of plastic waste. From November, exports to non-OECD countries will be banned. Consequently, the supply of plastic packaging waste within Europe will increase significantly, especially for low-grade plastic qualities.

At the same time, demand for regranulate for new product applications remains limited as long as no mandatory recycled content targets are in place. These will only come into effect in 2030. In the meantime, the market is coming under pressure and the value of plastic streams such as big bags is declining, warns Valipac.

‘Downward spiral’

‘Without a strong and stable outlet market, a downward spiral threatens to emerge: fewer economic incentives to recycle, fewer available processing routes and, ultimately, a weakening of source separation efforts that Valipac has been supporting for years through financial incentives and guidance for companies.’

Wanted: local recyclers

To avoid this scenario, Valipac is actively seeking recycling companies in OECD countries with the capacity to give these two streams a second life. Recyclers that can convert them into regranulate and are willing to reserve the requested capacity for Valipac’s affiliated waste collectors will receive compensation. In this way, Valipac aims to secure sufficient processing capacity and strengthen the entire value chain. The EPR organisation seeks to prevent existing recycling capacity from being lost during a period in which market demand and pricing are under pressure.

‘With this initiative, Valipac is giving a boost to the entire plastic recycling value chain and, by extension, to the circular economy as a whole,‘ says the organisation’s md Xavier Lhoir. ‘We must do everything we can to ensure that the recycling capacity we have built up is not lost.’

Interested recyclers can contact Lhoir at [email protected]