BPGMEA seeks ban on import of scrap plastic

The country's plastic goods manufacturers have urged the government not to allow import of waste or scrap plastic items which, according to them, put adverse impacts on the domestic industry and the environment, sources said.

Bangladesh Plastic Goods Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BPGMEA), a group of over 2,100 plastic goods manufacturers, has recently written a letter to the commerce ministry, seeking its intervention in the matter immediately.

Currently, import of any type of plastic scrap is totally prohibited according to Import Policy of 2015-2018 in the country.

The letter, signed by BPGMEA president Md. Jashim Uddin, said a large number of companies have proposed to seek permission from the commerce ministry for importing scrap plastic items. It will damage the environment if these waste plastic items are used again through recycling after importing them from abroad.

On the other hand, there is no standard and quality of these scraps plastics.

If the government allows import of waste plastic goods, a source said, local plastic goods producers will lose its international market and competitive edge.

Besides, the demand for the country's scrap plastic items will be reduced that will damage the environment and also discourage the domestic entrepreneurs, the letter added.

The plastic sector not only helps the country's ready-made garment (RMG) sector but also helps direct shipment of different types of plastic goods and toys in the international market, an entrepreneur said.

Preferring anonymity, a commerce ministry high official said they are working on the matter. "We're yet to take any decision in this regard."

When contacted, president of BPGMEA Md. Jashim Uddin said, "We have recently requested the ministry concerned not to give permission to import any types of scrap plastic items including hangers."

The local plastic market is growing fast. Its size is approximately Tk 300 billion, according BPGMEA.

There are over 5,500 small, medium and large plastic goods manufacturing units. The figure was around 3,500 a couple of years back.

Currently, the volume of direct and deemed exports of the plastic items is nearly US$ 1.0 billion in a fiscal year.

Exports of different types of products-plastic toys, PP-woven polypropylene bags, plastic hangers and fax fibre bags-are increasing every year, industry insiders said.