Two waste watchdog groups, the Basel Action Network (BAN) and The Last Beach Cleanup, published a Fact Briefing detailing that California is exporting a massive amount of plastic-contaminated paper waste to countries that have banned the import of that waste. In addition to U.S. export data, airtag trackers show that California’s plastic waste is being exported in paper bales and is often winding up being dumped near paper mills in Asian countries or burned for fuel – creating even more damaging pollution.
California has a history of being the largest exporter of plastic and mixed paper waste to Asia and other countries that do not have the capacity to recycle their own plastic waste. Mixed paper waste from U.S. curbside collection is known to have high (30 percent) plastic contamination rates. As a result of this contamination and the pollution it causes, China, Malaysia, Vietnam, South Korea and Taiwan have banned mixed plastic/paper waste imports, while other countries in Asia have set strict contamination levels of two percent or less.
In July 2025, CalRecycle approved a company as an end market destination for California’s mixed paper/plastic waste even though the company only has factories in countries that have banned the import of mixed paper waste for many years.
“CalRecycle’s decision demonstrates a total disregard for the environment and health of those living in developing countries. California wants to claim the most environmentally progressive recycling rates in the country, but they are simply cleaning their own house by sweeping their plastic filth to Asia. Fortunately, California law does require consistency with the global Basel Convention,” said Jim Puckett, founder of BAN. “We demand that the California government abide by its own rules and cease violating the laws of Asian countries.”
The discovery of California endorsing a breach of its own laws was made possible through a review of communications between CalRecycle and the Carton Council received through a public records request.
“As a State, California is still misleading its own citizens and the world when it comes to pretending to be able to recycle most of our plastic and contaminated paper wastes,” said Jan Dell, a chemical engineer and founder of The Last Beach Cleanup. The watchdog groups urge the following immediate actions to remedy the violations:
- CalRecycle must immediately rescind the August 8, 2025 SB 343 Amendment that falsely declared that adding plastic and metal-containing cartons into mixed paper bales qualifies as “sortation” under California law.
- California waste companies and brokers must immediately cease exports of Other Paper waste (HS4707.9) to China, Malaysia, Vietnam, South Korea and Taiwan. (This applies to all U.S. states).
- Shipping companies must not load California Other Paper waste (HS 4707.9) for export to Malaysia, Vietnam or Taiwan.
According to Brendon Holland, communications manager for the Carton Council, they assert that the Fact Briefing by BAN misrepresents PSI Grade 54 mixed paper as an unsorted stream. “As is the case for all recyclable materials, the decision on how to sort cartons and which end markets to sell them to is the sole decision of MRF operators. The Carton Council supports responsible end market selection and development.
Also, the Carton Council asserts that food and beverage cartons are primarily composed of paperboard and have intentionally been included in PSI Grade 54 mixed paper bales for more than a decade, typically making up less than .5 percent of the stream. Domestic and international paper mills knowingly purchase and process these bales to recover the valuable fiber in cartons.
Finally, the Carton Council disputes the assertation that communication between CalRecycle and the Carton Council is evidence of impropriety. SB 343 outlines a process for any party to bring additional data to CalRecycle for consideration. Under this transparent, collaborative process, the Carton Council provided CalRecycle with third-party, verifiable data – The Carton Council’s role is simply to show the recycling system as it operates and that engagement with regulators to provide information is standard and appropriate part of policy engagement.”
Published January 2026