HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 13535
City of Palo Alto (ID # 13535)
City Council Staff Report
Meeting Date: 1/24/2022 Report Type: Information Reports
City of Palo Alto Page 1
Title: Informational Report on the GreenWaste of Palo Alto Certificate of End
Use & Traceability Report and Update on Council Direction Regarding
Recyclable Materials.
From: City Manager
Lead Department: Public Works
Recommendation
This is an informational report and no Council action is required.
Background
The City required GreenWaste of Palo Alto (GWPA), under the existing collection contract, to
report on the disposition of recyclable materials as well as to gather information on the
environmental and social implications associated with the processing of Palo Alto’s recyclable
materials. GWPA was to request information regarding the disposition of specific materials
from each of their primary purchasers to whom the GreenWaste Materials Recovery Facility
(GreenWaste MRF) directly sells the recyclable materials and annually report the information to
the City. The first two GWPA reports can be found at the following links:
• Fiscal Year 2019 – Initial Review of Certificate of End Use & Traceability Data, 2019
• Fiscal Year 2020 – Initial Review of Certificate of End Use & Traceability Data, 2020
Staff has learned that the marketing of recyclable materials is commonly conducted through
brokers that orchestrate the processing of materials internationally. This leaves unknowns and
raises questions about whether the international processing facilities are recycling the materials
and if the processing and disposal is causing environmental or social issues. The information
GWPA provided is very limited and restricted due to confidentiality concerns from their
vendors. In May 2021, during discussions on this topic as part of the new solid waste processing
contract with GreenWaste Recovery (ID # 11632), Council directed staff to:
1. Pursue, with other cities, to have GreenWaste provide greater accounting of secondary
markets that they utilize;
2. Direct the City Manager to return with an amendment to authorize a quick response to
opportunities to utilize domestic mixed paper recycling;
3. Provide GreenWaste reports to the public and City Council on a regular basis;
4. Work with other cities on legislation to spur domestic or in-state recycling; and
City of Palo Alto Page 2
5. If GreenWaste is unable to provide additional secondary market accounting, return to
Council for consideration of further actions.
Discussion
GWPA 2021 Certificate of End Use & Traceability Data Report
Palo Alto’s recyclable materials are processed at GreenWaste’s MRF in San Jose where they are
combined with recyclables from other communities, separated by type, baled, and prepared for
marketing. GWPA’s Fiscal Year 2021 report titled “Initial Review of Certificate of End Use &
Traceability Data, 2021” (Attachment A) summarizes the traceability data and online review of
company information relative to sustainability and international markets. This report highlights
the GreenWaste MRF’s upgrades, their goal to seek domestic processing, the development of a
new mixed paper composting pilot in collaboration with the City, and updates on the pursuit of
other advanced processing technologies for recyclable materials. This report also includes the
supplementary marketing, processing, and disposal information from GreenWaste’s primary
purchasers and summarizes the recyclable materials tonnages by commodity types, the spread
of domestic vs. export markets, and the location of secondary processing, if applicable. In Fiscal
Year 2021, approximately 14,000 tons of recyclable materials were processed from Palo Alto
with approximately 39 percent staying in the United States and approximately 61 percent being
exported internationally to India, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Taiwan, Thailand,
Vietnam, and other countries. However, the GWPA reports are generalized and do not explain
which shipments go to which facilities within those countries. Therefore, it is not possible to
definitively determine whether the materials are being recycled properly or whether they may
be causing environmental or social problems.
Update on Council’s Direction
Staff developed a plan to address Council’s direction including to connect and collaborate with
other jurisdictions and entities to determine final disposition of their recyclable materials and
to determine support and interests to create legislation requiring marketers, brokers, and
businesses in the recycling industry to disclose the entire flow of materials to final disposition.
Below is an update to each of Council’s direction:
1. Communication with other cities
Staff is finalizing discussions with local cities and jurisdictions which have recyclable
materials processed at the GreenWaste MRF to determine interest levels in requesting
greater accounting of secondary markets utilized for recyclable materials. Initial
feedback is that the majority of jurisdictions do not have recycling traceability
requirements within their contracts but are interested in either joining a discussion
forum or minimally being informed of Palo Alto’s progress.
2. Amendment for a quick response to domestic processing opportunities
Council directed staff to bring an amendment to the GWPA contract to allow for a quick
response to handling mixed paper domestically, and staff plans to bring the amendment
City of Palo Alto Page 3
forward to Council in Spring 2022. Meanwhile, GWPA is assisting staff with further
research and pilot projects as potential alternatives to current processing of recyclable
materials and to determine the additional cost implications. There are two pilots
currently in progress. A mixed paper composting pilot is being conducted to determine
its breakdown capabilities and the possibility for a larger scale processing operation to
accommodate the amount of mixed paper generated in Palo Alto. Staff expects
information and analytics on this pilot in January. Additionally, a second pilot on a
recycling supply chain verification is in progress to test a chain of custody tracking of a
specific plastic from the GreenWaste MRF in San Jose to a domestic plastics processor in
Southern California.
3. Provide GreenWaste reports
This information report includes the 2021 Certificate of End Use and Traceability report
from GWPA.
4. Legislation to spur domestic or in-state recycling
Staff is communicating with local legislators and CalRecycle and requesting collaboration
to develop policies requiring a system to ensure that recyclable materials can be tracked
to disclose the entire flow of materials to final disposition; to create a third-party
certification process to verify that recyclables intended to be recycled are actually
recycled; and to keep recyclables within the United States where laws and regulations
can protect the environment and human health. Staff developed a survey for local cities
and jurisdictions to determine interest levels in joining a task force to create legislation.
Staff is having similar discussions with other entities including the National Stewardship
Action Council, the Basel Action Network, the California Stewardship Action Council,
California’s Statewide Commission on Recycling Markets and Curbside Recycling, and
CalRecycle, the State’s waste management agency.
5. Additional secondary market accounting
There is no update on this specific motion yet, but staff is searching for reliable and
descriptive information on secondary markets.
Staff plans to provide Council with updates and developments on these Council directives and
individual projects as more information is available to be reported.
Resource Impact
This informational report does not have a direct resource impact at this time; however, some of
the options staff is exploring may require additional funding within the Refuse Fund Operating
Budget for increased future expenses. For example, one of the alternatives to sending mixed
paper to international markets for recycling includes finding domestic processing facilities,
which would result in additional processing and transportation expenses being incurred. Staff
plans to bring the amendment to the GWPA contract forward to Council to allow for a quick
response to recycling mixed paper domestically. Associated adjustments to the Refuse Fund
City of Palo Alto Page 4
Operating Budget will be considered as part of the FY 2023 budget development process,
subject to Council’s annual appropriation of funds.
Stakeholder Engagement
This is an informational report and update. When more information on international markets
becomes available, input from the public will be sought.
Environmental Review
This informational report does not require environmental review.
Attachments:
• Attachment A: 2021 GreenWaste of Palo Alto Traceability Report
Initial Review of Certificate of End Use & Traceability Data, 2021
Summary of submitted traceability data and online review of company information
relative to sustainability and international markets
July 21, 2021
Updated August 10, 2021
Updated December 13, 2021
Background & Expectations
GreenWaste of Palo Alto and GreenWaste Recovery
GreenWaste of Palo Alto (GWPA) is the City of Palo Alto’s Solid Waste, Recyclable Materials, and
Compostable Materials Collection Contractor. This Collection Agreement commenced in October 2008,
was amended and restated in June 2015, and was again amended and restated in January 2019, with the
term extended through June 30, 2026.
The GWPA Collection Agreement states that Recyclable Materials are to be delivered to the GreenWaste
Recovery (GWR) Materials Recovery Facility (MRF), where the materials are to be processed for
recovery. At the MRF, initial processing is conducted on the single stream recyclables collected
throughout the region. In this process, GreenWaste separates all materials by commodity type and
removes contamination. GreenWaste then sells the separate commodities to brokers and/or secondary
processors.
Currently, GWPA transports Solid Waste to the SMaRT Station in Sunnyvale. In August 2020, the City of
Palo Alto released an RFP for the processing of Solid Waste, and in May 2021, GWR was awarded that
Processing Agreement. Effective January 1, 2022, GWPA will begin transporting Solid Waste to the GWR
MRF for processing.
The material managed by the GWPA Collection Agreement and the material managed by the GWR
Processing Agreement are disparate. GWPA collects approximately 18,000 tons of Recyclable Materials
annually for processing at the GWR MRF. Meanwhile, less than 1,000 tons of recyclables are projected
to be recovered out of the City’s Solid Waste annually. The real value of the GWR Processing Agreement
is the assurance that organics material will be recovered and not sent to landfill.
Commodities Markets & Trade Secrets
GWR is a recyclables processor, and markets its own recyclable commodities. Recycling is a complex
industry, and has gotten more complex over the past five years.
CalRecycle succinctly summarizes some of the recent changes that have had significant impacts on the
recycling industry:
“The export of recyclable materials is a key component of California's recycling infrastructure.
Changes to international policies restricting imports of recyclable materials, the declining global
market for plastic and paper scrap, and the impending Basel Convention plastic waste
amendments that will make exporting plastic scrap more challenging continue to pose a significant
challenge to the solid waste and recycling industry, local governments, and Californians.”
https://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/markets/nationalsword
GWR has witnessed firsthand the impacts resulting from the change in international markets. In 2017, a
paper mill in Santa Clara closed due to high productions costs. The products were moved to mills in the
Midwest, Louisiana and Georgia. The closure came as industry leaders spoke about the need for more
domestic mill capacity to handle material that could no longer be shipped to China. There was major
price instability due to a freeze in issuance of new Chinese import licenses. These fluctuating Old
Corrugated Cardboard (OCC) prices contributed to the decision to close the California plant.
As the marketers of their own recyclable commodities, GWR has borne witness to how unstructured the
commodities market can be. Brokers only have limited information about the ports to which
commodities are intended to ship. Once at the ports, materials are sent to various plants, making the
full life-cycle of commodities extremely difficult to track. Furthermore, with the current state of the
markets, recyclables brokers are not in a position to place requirements on customers.
Moreover, information on commodity markets, pricing, buyers and other information pertaining to
commodity sales transactions constitute confidential and proprietary corporate Trade Secrets. This
information is not of public knowledge or general knowledge in the trade or business and that have an
intrinsic value preserved by being safeguarded from disclosure. GreenWaste and its brokers stand to be
harmed by the disclosure of Trade Secrets as follows:
•Losing markets for specific materials (e.g. clamshells or film plastics),
•Losing local markets and only having available domestic or international markets,
•Losing domestic markets and only having available international markets, or
•Jeopardizing relationships with buyers, with the potential to lose business.
For all of the reasons detailed above, it has been quite a challenge to try to ascertain additional
information regarding the final disposition of recovered recyclables. GWR and GWPA are not alone in
this challenge to gather a complete data set. The World Wildlife Fun (WWF) recently established
Resource: Plastic in cooperation with five Principal Members (Keurig Dr Pepper, McDonald’s
Corporation, Procter & Gamble, Starbucks, and The Coca-Cola Company), and released its inaugural
Transparent 2020 report. The report identified the significant data gaps: “The lack of data on waste
management globally is a shared challenge—no one institution can address it alone…” (https://resource-
plastic.com/pdf/Transparent2020.pdf).
New Agreement Amendment & Expectations
At the end of 2018, while City staff was updating their Zero Waste Plan and wrapping up negotiations
with GWPA on an Agreement Amendment and extension, Council gave City staff direction to report on
the intermediate and final disposition of Palo Alto’s recovered paper and plastic. City staff and GWPA
agreed that as a goal, GWPA would attempt to gather information on the environmental and social
implications associated with the full life-cycle of Palo Alto Recyclable Materials.
The expectation of the new Attachment to the Agreement, “Environmental and Social Impacts of
Processing Recyclable Materials”, was that GWPA would request information from the “primary
purchasers” of Palo Alto’s Recyclable Materials and then conduct a desk study based on the provided
information. The ultimate goal is for the City of Palo Alto to have a better understanding of the final
disposition of the materials, and therefore guide their materials management program.
Progress & Action Plan
GWR Facility upgrades
In order to ensure that all materials leaving the MRF are in proper condition to be recycled,
GreenWaste focuses on ensuring clean, contamination-free commodities. GWR completed an upgrade
to its single stream recyclables line (the line on which Palo Alto’s recyclable materials are processed) in
May of 2019. The upgrade included the installation of six optical sorters designed to reduce
contamination and produce cleaner, higher quality recovered recyclables. More specifically, these
optical sorters improve the quality of mixed paper and newsprint by repelling plastic away from paper
using infrared lasers. These lasers identify the various types of plastics that inadvertently end up mixed
in the paper stream and recover them based on their unique resin type. Both the paper and plastics are
separated, sorted, and then baled.
Then again in February of 2020, GWR performed another upgrade to the facility. Two Max-AI systems
(one featuring two sorting units) were installed and programmed to identify specific material types and
extract anything that does not belong in the stream. The first unit removes non-HDPE contamination
and the second unit selects HDPE-natural. By ensuring a clean product, GWR gains a strong position in
the market, and reduces the risk of downstream issues.
Domestic processing availability
Recycling operations across North America are adding additional processing capacity in order to
accommodate a growing amount of material displaced by export market upheavals. Domestic
innovation is growing, but still far from providing sufficient capacity for all domestic commodities
generated domestically.
GreenWaste of Palo Alto has also worked with GreenWaste Recovery to identify more domestic markets
for paper and plastic, which would provide greater assurances regarding the ultimate disposition of the
material, and would also ensure that the processing adheres to the United States’ environmental
standards. Domestic markets are generally more expensive than international markets, and GWR would
need to act very quickly in order to secure a space with a domestic processor should space become
available. In October of 2019, GWR secured a domestic mill for Palo Alto’s mixed paper. Securing this
space for paper processing was dependent on approval from Palo Alto City Council, which takes more
time than allowable by timelines within the market. GWPA, GWR and City staff are developing
methodologies to more readily allow a quick response to market developments. Meanwhile, in spring of
2021, GreenWaste expanded domestic contracts by adding a new domestic three-year supply
agreement.
Recycling entities have made efforts to track the locations of the expanding capacity, as follows:
•NERC – North American Recycled Plastic Processing Capacity Increases, published 1/17/20.
This is a list of increases in North American capacity to process recyclable plastics into products
such as plastic lumber, pellets or resins for end-markets. The list covers facilities that have been
publicly identified in either the trade or local press.
https://nerc.org/documents/North%20American%20Recycled%20Plastic%20Processing%20Cap
acity%20Increases%20-%20January%202020.pdf
•Resource Recycling – End Market Expansions for Recovered Fiber
Resource Recycling charted North American paper mill expansions on a map. All the included
projects were announced or completed in 2017 or later.
https://resource-recycling.com/recycling/2019/08/27/these-projects-are-boosting-domestic-
capacity-for-recycled-paper/
•Resource Recycling – End Market Expansions for Recovered Plastic
Resource Recycling charted North American plastic processing expansions on a map. All the
included projects were announced or completed in 2017 or later.
https://resource-recycling.com/recycling/2020/02/25/domestic-plastics-recycling-capacity-is-
expanding/
Mixed Paper Composting Pilot
Due to the limitations of available traceability information and insufficient domestic markets for fiber
material, the GreenWaste partners have considered alternative handling and processing options for
mixed paper. Together with Z-Best Composting Facility, GWR has offered the City of Palo Alto a pilot
project to determine the effectiveness and associated costs relative to composting mixed paper
recovered from the single stream recyclables line. This is an unconventional approach because the
“highest and best use” of clean recovered paper is to be recycled. However, GWR and GWPA are eager
to provide the analysis that will inform the City’s materials management plan. An outline of the pilot’s
methodology and associated analysis follows.
Methodology
•Mixed paper bales recovered from the single-stream recyclables line, amounting approximately
10 tons, will be opened at the MRF and transported separately to Z-Best for processing.
•At Z-Best, the paper will be shredded and then transported to the composting area, where it will
be mixed with other organics (wood fines or green fines) to approximate a normal feedstock
profile prior to being injected into the composting bag.
•The bagged area containing the mixed paper will be marked for future analysis.
•The pilot material will undergo the standard composting process, which includes a retention
time of approximately four months.
•After the composting process, the mixed paper segment will be screened and compared with
typical processed post-consumer organics (with lower fiber content).
o If the material has sufficiently composted, it will undergo the standard curing process.
o If the material has insufficiently composted, it will be disposed.
Analysis
•The process will be documented as follows:
o Dates & photos of notable steps in the process
o Weights will be assessed during important milestones
•Material will be screened and the compost fraction will be evaluated for particle size, maturity
and visible paper remnants.
•The overs fraction will be evaluated for un-composted paper content.
•If the pilot illustrates that this is a feasible processing option, a per-ton rate estimate and/or
other associated costs will be provided.
Advanced Processing Technologies
Energy Conversion/Gasification
GreenWaste of Palo Alto has had a number of conversations with innovative companies over the years
to determine alternative approaches to processing various material types, ranging from diapers to
difficult-to-recycle plastics, and has signed a number of NDAs as conversations have progressed. These
technologies include plastic-to-oil and gasification of problematic plastics and diapers. Thus far, the
costs associated with these technologies have been prohibitive.
Novoloop (previously BioCellection)
GWR has been in a public-private partnership with Novoloop and the City of San Jose to develop
chemical processing methodologies for film plastic. This process upcycles the plastic by breaking it down
to its basic elements, which are the building blocks for new, more durable plastics. GWR is currently
working with Novoloop to install equipment that would pelletize plastic film, which would integrate
Novoloop’s technology with solid waste facility recovered plastics.
Alternative Approaches
In order to expand the scope and success of the traceability work detailed in the report, GreenWaste of
Palo Alto and the City of Palo Alto have discussed potential next steps. The discussion has included
research into technological advancements, including GPS trackers, to understand where material is
actually ending up. GreenWaste staff participated in discussions with the Ecology Center in Berkeley,
which partnered with Basel Action Network’s Earth Eye to deploy GPS units in bales. When GWR has
explored this option with brokers, it has become clear that 1) brokers do not want these units in their
bales, and 2) bales may be sent back to the sender (from the ultimate purchaser) if a GPS tracking unit is
found (which come at a great cost). The resistance to this approach continues.
Summary
GWR and GWPA staff worked in coordination to obtain supplementary marketing, processing, and
disposal information from GWR’s primary purchasers. The following tables summarize materials sorted
by commodity types, and the spread of domestic vs. export markets as reported by GWR’s primary
purchasers.
Tonnage Summary
GreenWaste Material Recovery Facility
Product
Specifications Domestic Export FY 2021 Actual Tonnage
(Recovered from SS & MSW)
Material Type
Breakdown
Aluminum Cans 100% Domestic 0% Export 1,726.32 1.05%
Aluminum Foil/Scrap 100% Domestic 0% Export 306.53 0.19%
Ferrous/Tin 100% Domestic 0% Export 3,290.33 2.00%
Glass, Commingled 100% Domestic 0% Export 36,688.30 22.28%
Plastic, HDPE ~99% Domestic ~1% Export 4,618.66 2.81%
Plastic, PET ~99% Domestic ~1% Export 4,956.05 3.01%
Rigid Plastic ~10% Domestic ~90% Export 2,129.78 1.29%
Film Plastics ~5% Domestic ~95% Export 204.12 0.12%
Paper
(mixed, news, office) 0% Domestic 100% Export 34,788.14 21.13%
Cardboard ~5% Domestic ~95% Export 67,593.19 41.05%
Scrap Metal
(all grades) 100% Domestic 0% Export 8,283.89 5.03%
E-Waste 100% Domestic 0% Export 65.84 0.04%
Total 38.53% 61.47% 164,651.15 100%
% Palo Alto 8.6% of overall recyclable material
Primary Purchaser Summary
The following table provides a summary of the types of recyclables marketed by GWR and the
associated primary purchasers.
Product Specifications: Primary Purchasers/Countries
(for material types covered in this report)
Plastic, HDPE Berg Mill: International
Envision Plastics: North Carolina & California (per 2020)
Plastic, PET Berg Mill: Domestic & International
Rigid Plastic Berg Mill: International
Newport CH International: International
Mixed Plastic Containers Berg Mill: International
Film Plastics Berg Mill: International
Newport CH International: International
Mixed Paper
Newport CH International: International
Fibre Trade: Domestic, Southeast Asia, Mexico
OGO Fibers: Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Korea
Newspaper
Berg Mill: International
Fibre Trade: Domestic, Southeast Asia, Mexico
Newport CH International: International
OGO Fibers: Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Korea, India
Old Corrugated
Berg Mill: International
CellMark: International & Domestic (per 2020)
Newport CH International: International
OGO Fibers: Thailand, Vietnam, Korea, Malaysia, India
Super Link Plastic: Vietnam, Korea, Thailand, India, Indonesia,
Taiwan, Malaysia
Berg Mill is the primary recipient/purchaser of GreenWaste’s processed recyclables, however, the actual
quantity directed to Berg Mill changes every month as all movement is dependent on pricing and
bookings available. Overall, GreenWaste’s primary purchasers continue to be hesitant to provide details
regarding the life-cycle of the materials they buy because this data set often includes proprietary
information.
CellMark Inc. (Novato, CA)
CellMark did not provide traceability data for the cardboard it purchases from GreenWaste, but did
provide basic information about the company.
CellMark is both a brokerage and a secondary processor, and its purchasers are secondary processors.
The secondary processing includes chipping, washing, and pelletizing (for plastic products). Per the
Cellmark website, CellMark ships to facilities in North America, Europe, South America, the Caribbean
and Asia (www.cellmark.com/recycling/).
Per the CellMark website, CellMark participates in initiatives to ensure global sustainability. CellMark
comments on its sustainability via its CSR webpages (https://www.cellmark.com/ideas-values/sustainability-csr/):
“CellMark recognizes that a healthy environment is fundamental to our business. As such, we respect
and comply with local legislation and environmental regulations in our global operations.”
“CellMark is a member of the National Association of Chemical Distributors (NACD) and as such, is
committed to product stewardship and responsible distribution in every phase of chemical storage,
handling, transportation and disposal.”
“We do not ship any restricted material, for example dual-use goods, without proper permit… Each
employee is encouraged to share the Code of Conduct with our business partners. We expect them to
acknowledge and respect it in the context of their own particular culture.”
(https://www.cellmark.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/CellMark-Code-of-Conduct.pdf)
CellMark’s 2020 Annual Sustainability Report, published in April 2021, highlighted maintaining Silver
status in the Eco Vadis supply chain audit. The audit investigates four core areas: Labor & Human Rights,
Environment, Ethics, and Sustainable Procurement (https://ecovadis.com/ratings/).
Following is a diagram showing to which countries the materials are sent.
An internet search resulted in a pertinent article posted on July 22, 2019:
New Frontiers in paper production
In mid-July, Crossroads Paper held a press conference to announce its plans to build a paper mill in
the Salt Lake City area that will recycle old corrugated containers (OCC) and residential mixed paper
into new paper that will then be used to make boxes for manufacturers, farmers and e-commerce
companies.
The Sasine brothers’ partners include […]Sweden-based Cellmark, which specializes in international
trade and distribution of raw materials related to the global pulp and paper industry.
https://www.recyclingtoday.com/article/crossroads-paper-recycled-containerboard-salt-lake-valley/
The most recent update on the Crossroads Paper Plant was a press release published in Utah Business
on June 22, 2021:
Peterson Real Assets makes growth equity investment in Crossroads Paper
Cardboard Did not provide
Peterson Real Assets, a subsidiary of Peterson Partners, Inc. has made a growth equity investment in
Crossroads Paper, a 100 percent recycled paper mill to be built in the Mountain West to serve for the
growing demand for e-commerce, agriculture, and industrial packaging in the Western United
States.
The Crossroads Paper site selection process is underway, with a final determination expected by year
end.
Berg Mill Supply/Classic Fibres (Los Angeles, CA)
Berg Mill did not submit any traceability data, but did provide basic information about the company.
Berg Mill purchases a number of materials from GreenWaste, including HDPE, Cardboard, Film Plastic,
Mixed Plastic, Mixed Rigid Plastic, Newspaper, PET Clamshells, and PET.
Berg Mill Supply is a brokerage. Berg Mill elected to not complete the traceability form as to not provide
proprietary data. Berg Mill provides general data on its website about the destination of its exports. Per
the Berg Mill Supply website: (https://bergmill.com/about/where-berg-mill-ships/)
“Berg Mill Supply Co., Inc. redirects waste from material recovery facilities (MRF) in the United States
to end users in international locations, where the material is processed and a new material is
produced.”
“We sell material suitable for many different countries abroad such as China Indonesia Korea
Vietnam Thailand India Myanmar Malaysia Pakistan Laos Costa Rica Brazil USA.”
Following is a diagram showing to which countries the materials are sent.
A blog posted by Berg Mill on December 2, 2019, stated the following:
HDPE Did not provide
LDPE Film Did not provide
Mixed Plastic Did not provide
Newspaper Did not provide
PET Did not provide
Cardboard Did not provide
“But it isn’t just China’s import restrictions that have caused a downswing in mixed paper value. The
market started taking a dive after the U.S. economic downturn in 2010, nearly a decade ago. The
good news is that new international markets are opening for U.S. mixed paper, for example India,
where U.S. Corrugated, a box manufacturer that uses recovered fiber, is opening a plant in the
coming months.”
(https://bergmill.com/2019/12/02/turning-over-a-new-leaf-in-paper-recycling-with-ai-technology/)
A blog posted by Berg Mill on August 12, 2019, stated the following:
“With no global regulations against these exports, it is poor and developing nations that will end up
paying the price for cleaning up after the U.S.… For recycling to flourish to its full potential, we must
process our recyclables in domestic, modern factories that are designed to properly shelter toxins
from workers and the environment.”
(https://bergmill.com/2019/08/12/your-recycling-may-not-be-going-where-you-think/)
A blog posted by Berg Mill on June 10, 2019, stated the following:
“While recent news in recycling has been discouraging due to China’s National Sword and other
foreign imported scrap bans, Berg Mill is ever committed to keeping your recyclables moving…
Ultimately, domestic recycling has the potential to become superior to importing scrap both
economically and environmentally."
(https://bergmill.com/2019/06/10/recycling-challenges-bring-opportunities-for-growth/)
An internet search resulted in a pertinent article posted on June 3, 2018:
According to leading US recycling firm Berg Mill Supply, “all grades of plastic have seen a major shift
to secondary markets” from 2016 to 2017, when China’s import restrictions came to light. In that
period, Malaysia took in five times more polyvinyl chloride (PVC), while Vietnam more than doubled
imports of polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
(https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/china-bans-plastic-waste-whats-next-for-recycling-in-singapore-10281026)
Fibre Trade Inc. (Burlingame, CA)
Fibre Trade submitted partial traceability data for the mixed paper, newspaper and office paper it
purchases from GreenWaste.
Fibre Trade is a brokerage. Per its website, Fibre Trade is a direct exporter of recovered paper, pulp and
mineral products from the USA, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Japan to affiliated paper mills all
over the world. (https://www.fibretrade.net/)
Following is a diagram showing to which countries and regions the materials are sent.
An article in Recycling Today published on October 24th, 2016 illustrates Fibre Trade’s engagement in the
paper industry, stating that a staff member served as the specifications committee chair for Paper Stock
Industries. (https://www.recyclingtoday.com/article/pprc-2016-psi-paper-specifications-rates/)
Mixed Paper Southeast Asia, Mexico, USA
Newspaper Southeast Asia, Mexico, USA
Office Paper Southeast Asia, Mexico, USA
Newport CH International (Orange, CA)
Newport CH International did not submit traceability data but did provide basic information about the
company. Newport purchases cardboard, mixed paper, mixed rigid plastics and film plastics from
GreenWaste.
Newport both manufactures products and is a brokerage. Per its website, Newport focuses on the
purchase and direct export sale of recyclable paper, plastics, as well as agricultural products. The
following statement is made on the Newport CH International website.
“Our expertise is sourcing recyclable paper and plastics throughout North America. We are direct
export shippers for the recycling industry, supplying numerous mills in China, as well as many other
Asian countries. We provide quality raw material for their state of the art mills and manufacturing
facilities.
Our overseas customers have the assurance of consistent supply and quality. Newport CH handles all
logistics in-house, including shipping line rate negotiations, bookings and local drayage assistance.
We take care of all required export documentation and banking transactions from our corporate
office in Orange, California. To facilitate our exports to China we are AQSIQ certified and are an
approved CCIC self-inspection company. In addition, we hold ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certifications
for our global quality management system, demonstrating our organizations continued commitment
to quality. Newport CH strives to encourage growth in the recycling industry by being supportive and
involved with numerous state and local government agencies.
Through our office in Shanghai, China we are able to work directly with the mill buyers in order to
meet their requirements. We are in constant communication with our Shanghai office to stay
apprised of any market changes or concerns with material arriving into China. .”
(http://newportch.com/)
Following is a diagram showing to which countries the materials are sent.
An internet search resulted in a pertinent article posted on March 25, 2021:
Malaysia declares reported shipments of US plastic wastes to Asia are illegal
Governments are beginning to react to recent warnings issued by the Basel Action Network (BAN) of
likely illegal exports of plastic waste from the US.
Due to recent amendments adopted by the 188 Parties to the Basel Convention, as of January 1,
2021, parties will be unable to import US plastic wastes unless they are very pure and unmixed. In its
announcement, BAN highlighted recent data showing the US exports have not diminished despite the
new rules and flagged three active shipments moving to Indonesia, Malaysia, and India.
Cardboard Did not provide
Mixed Paper Did not provide
Rigid Plastic Did not provide
Film Plastic Did not provide
In Indonesia, the government appears to be uncertain as to what to do about the two containers of
plastic waste that have already arrived at the port of Belwan on board a Mediterranean Shipping
Company (MSC) vessel from California, USA. Three more from the same exporter — Newport CH
International, are also on their way to Indonesia.
(https://www.recycling-magazine.com/2021/03/25/malaysia-declares-reported-shipments-of-us-plastic-wastes-to-asia-
are-illegal/)
An internet search resulted in a pertinent article posted on December 3, 2019:
Signals point to all-out recycled fiber ban in China
“We’re diversifying, we’re going to try to maximize our sales to other countries,” said Jimmy Yang,
CEO of Newport Beach, Calif.-based Newport CH International, a major broker of recovered fiber to
China. “We’re expecting volume to drop, that’s just reality – we enjoyed great markets for the past
20 years, and maybe things are going to change now.”
At the meeting, officials told the companies to anticipate lower import license volumes during the
fourth quarter of this year, said Yang, whose business has at times moved up to 90% of its fiber to
China. He noted Chinese officials said a ban is coming in 2021 for all paper grades except newsprint,
which could continue to enter the country for newspaper production.
(https://resource-recycling.com/recycling/2019/12/03/signals-point-to-all-out-recycled-fiber-ban-in-china/)
An internet search resulted in a pertinent article posted on April 3, 2019:
China's recyclers look at Latin America, Caribbean
Hamilton Wen, director of the plastics division at trading firm Newport CH International LLC in
Orange, Calif., said in a panel at the conference that recyclers face complex questions as they
analyze where it makes business sense to recycle and also react to governments worldwide limiting
imports of scrap.
"It's definitely cheaper in these other countries, but how long are they going to let you do it," he said.
"I think eventually, end game, it probably will come back here [to the United States]. Whatever we're
creating probably we should recycle it here”… added that the business case can make it too
expensive to do some types of recycling in higher-cost countries.
(https://www.plasticsnews.com/article/20190403/NEWS/190409967/china-s-recyclers-look-at-latin-america-caribbean)
An internet search resulted in a pertinent article posted on February 28, 2018:
Exporters talk Chinese ban’s operational and financial impacts
Newport CH International, like many exporters, has made dramatic operational changes since the
ban impact started to spread. The company acts as a broker, so it tries to find markets offering the
best price and stable demand. For the past 20 years, that has consistently been China, Wen said. The
only variation was where inside China the company would send the material.
“Now, that’s completely off the table as far as scrap, so we’ve had to completely reshift, and look for
new markets basically anywhere in the world,” Wen said. “Places we’ve never looked for previously,
but now we’re having to travel to look for processors, look for end users. It’s pretty much a complete
upheaval of our entire plastic brokerage business.”
Wen said there are not enough end users to handle all the material on the market, so they are able
to demand higher quality, whereas it used to be a seller’s market. Wen predicts markets will develop
for low-grade plastics, although they will take time to develop. He said there is already a little more
demand coming back for the materials as a result of market development that’s taken place since
the ban, and that further development is currently underway.
OGO Fibers (Ontario, Canada)
OGO Fibers submitted partial traceability data for the mixed paper and cardboard it purchases from
GreenWaste.
OGO Fiber is a brokerage and performs secondary processing in the form of pulpifying and
manufacturing. OGO Fibers confirmed in 2020 that the material is never double brokered and all the
material goes directly to an overseas mill with a direct order. Following is a diagram showing to which
countries the materials are sent.
Per its website, OGO Fibers has received ISO 9001 certification (for quality management system) and
holds both AQSIQ and CCIC licenses. (http://www.ogofibers.com/ps)
An internet search shows that OGO Fibers is a Journal of Commerce Top Exporter (number 100). The
article, posted on May 25, 2020, in which this information appears discusses the challenges of both
trade policy uncertainty and asymmetrical market conditions between international and domestic
transportation modes. (http://www.joc.com/maritime-news/top-100-us-importer-and-exporter-rankings-
2019_20200525.html)
Cardboard Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Korea, India
Mixed Paper Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Korea
Envision Plastics (Chino, CA)
Envision Plastics is a leading recycler of HDPE plastics and supplier of Post Consumer Resin (PCR).
Envision purchases HDPE from GreenWaste and washes, chips and pelletizes the material. Envision lists
six different products that it creates from recovered plastic: Ecoprime®, Natural Color, Mixed Color,
Oceanbound Plastic, Prisma®, and Deodorized.
Following is a diagram showing to which countries the materials are sent.
Envision Plastics is headquartered in Reidsville, North Carolina and has a West Coast plant in Chino,
California. Envision’s parent company, Altium Packaging (previously Consolidated Container Company)
includes “Act with Integrity and in Compliance” as one of its core values. ( (https://altiumpkg.com/why-
altium/our-guiding-principles/)
Envison Plastics OceanBound Plastic recycling program aims to remove 10 million pounds of plastic
before it enters the ocean at “At Risk Zones” defined by areas within 50km of coastline, with a focus on
communities lacking formal waste collection. According to their FAQ webpage on the program, Envision
Plastics works with partners “to professionalize the collection stream, collect this plastic, and
manufacture it into usable products.” (https://envisionplastics.com/oceanbound-plastic/)
HDPE North Carolina & California (per 2020 data)
Super Link Plastic (Oakland, CA)
Super Link Plastic submitted partial traceability data as well as basic information about the company.
Super Link purchases cardboard from GreenWaste.
Super Link is a brokerage. Per its website, Super Link sources scrap plastic, cardboard, mixed paper,
e-waste, and other recyclables from post-industrial, post-commercial and post-consumer waste streams.
Super Link Plastic disclosed cardboard exports are sent to secondary brokerage in Vietnam, Korea,
Thailand, India, Indonesia, Taiwan and Malaysia. Per Super Link, all processing occurs in facilities
following local environmental laws and policy.
Following is a diagram showing to which countries the materials are sent.
No further pertinent information was found on this company and/or its exports via a simple internet
search.
Cardboard Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Taiwan, India