Plastic waste that currently crosses national borders has a limited classification. The Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (HS) only takes into account ethylene, styrene, and vinyl chloride polymers, with everything else grouped into a common subheading. However, starting in 2028, the rules will change so that governments can control the circulation of plastic to strengthen the circular economy.
According to the State Customs Service of Ukraine, in the 2028 version of the HS, commodity items will be restructured, and new subheadings will appear for some plastic waste. First and foremost, this concerns waste whose circulation must be controlled in accordance with the requirements of the Basel Convention.
The problem of accounting
The 2022 version of HS is currently in force worldwide. All types of plastic other than those listed above are combined in commodity subheading 3915 90 within the general group 3915 "Waste, parings, and scrap of plastics."
Each country has detailed unclassified types of waste in its own way. The result is a chaotic system with nuances in different jurisdictions. Therefore, it was extremely difficult to collect data and analyze the situation with the transboundary movement of plastic waste.
Why effective control is necessary
A number of governments, especially European countries, are proactively working to implement a circular economy. Control over the movement of plastics between countries is simply essential for realizing its core principles.
Accurate accounting of waste will make it possible to track the "circulation" of plastics globally, monitor and regulate the trade in plastic products, and control the trade of products that pollute the environment.
Summary of changes
Based on criteria in line with the Basel Convention, a new subheading 3915 40 will be created. It will include waste containing substances with hazardous characteristics.
Separate subheadings will be designated for the classification of waste from other types of plastics that require special attention under the Basel Convention. They will differ according to the type of substance, presence of impurities, and purity.
The new edition of the HS will also provide a range of subheadings for greater detail in waste classification. For example, subheadings 3915 51 to 3915 59 will apply to waste, parings, and scrap of plastics consisting solely of one non-halogenated polymer and almost free from contamination.
Not just material, but the product itself
The new Harmonized System will also specify types of polymers in primary forms. These refer to substances that can affect the environment – PBS (polybutylene succinate), PBT (polybutylene terephthalate), PBAT (polybutylene adipate-co-terephthalate), PEF (polyethylene furanoate-2,5-dicarboxylate), and PHBV (poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate)).
Some products will also be singled out in separate subheadings. Among them are textile plant fibers, cotton swabs, fishing nets and fish scoops, and even balloons.
All disposable items – separately
The new 2028 HS will assign separate categories to goods and products intended for single use only. These positions will be created within group 39 "Plastics and articles thereof" and group 65 "Headgear and parts thereof".
Зокрема, окремі товарні підпозиції з’являться для таких товарів: соломинки для пиття, одноразові коробки, пакети, мішки, пляшки, столовий посуд, рукавички та головні убори з пластмас.
Ecopolitic reported that, according to forecasts, already by 2040, 280 million tonnes of plastic will enter the environment every year, and the production of primary plastic will increase to 680 million tonnes per year.
