The implications of China’s ban on foreign waste already being felt in the recycling industry

Recycling could end up in landfill and Victorians could be faced with rate rises as waste companies start to feel the impacts of China’s ban on the import of foreign waste.

As first revealed on the Rumour File, waste giant Visy will no longer accept recycling from its contractors, which services 11 councils across the state after the ban.

Neil Mitchell he had been contacted by a small business owner overnight who collects co-mingled recycling from pubs and clubs in the city.

As of today, they were forced to send their loads of recycling to landfill as Visy and other waste companies cut back on the amount of recyclable materials they accept.

“I’m getting messages from people in the industry that as of today, they are taking recyclables and putting them in landfill. That’s horrendous, isn’t it?” he said.

Dr Trevor Thornton, a lecturer in hazardous materials at Deakin University, said there were numerous implications.

“It could end up costing the householder more money,” he said.

“If councils stop taking the material in the recycling bin it will go to landfill which will cost us more and councils will have no choice but to pass it on to us.”

Dr Thornton said the ban should not have come as a “shock to the system”.

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