Bid to recycle county platics in China

Another recycling initiative is on the horizon which could see the county's plastic bottles being sent to China and returning as fleece jackets.

By The Newsroom

Published 31st Aug 2005, 11:57 BST

Updated 8th Jun 2018, 03:36 BST

The idea comes after West Sussex County Council's head of waste management, Phillip Russell visited two plastics factories and major paper mills while on a fact-finding mission to China.

China's growing demand for recyclables such as paper and plastic could ensure a continuing market for the materials as UK markets become harder to find as more and more local authorities meet the government targets for recycling.

The returning loads would also utilise shipping containers which return to the UK empty, keeping transportation costs low.

Mr Russell said: "Exporting to China is only an option at this stage, and a great deal more work and investigation needs to be done before we as a waste disposal authority can commit ourselves to any long term arrangement.

For full story see West Sussex Gazette, September 1.