Panama exports its plastic waste to Costa Rica

Francisco Rivas Ríos.

apronad@gmail.com

https://www.facebook.com/apronadpanama/

In the period, 2010 - 2015 Panama exported 20,899 metric tons (net weight) of waste plastics to 31 countries. Exports are classified in Chapter Tariff 39 "Plastics and Articles" heading 3915 "waste, parings and scrap of plastics" Subparagraphs Tariff 39159000 "Waste, parings and scrap of plastics, except for ethylene, styrene and vinyl chloride" , 39151000 "Waste, parings and scrap of polymers of ethylene".

The total value of exports amounted in this period to $ US 3 810.802, with an average value of US $ 182.35 per ton. The 31 countries that exports were directed were: Costa Rica, United States of America, Hong Kong, China, Honduras, El Salvador, Mexico, China, Uruguay, Israel, India, Colombia, Haiti, Zona Franca de Colón, Bahamas , Barbados, Brazil, Chile, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Guyana, Jamaica, the Netherlands, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Saint Lucia, Spain, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela.

However, exports are concentrated in 5 countries, which purchased 17,192 metric tons (82%), with a value of US $ 3, 154.970 (83%). Following are the countries and their participation rates:

We have selected the 4 main importing countries of waste plastic, Canada, Costa Rica, United States and Hong Kong for the evolution of the unit price of the metric ton (FOB) according to each country and the overall average. Overall, prices have shown an increase from US $ 136 in 2010 to $ US 233.34. The best prices have been paid in the United States although the trend is downward: from $ US 584 in 2010 to $ US 373.17 per metric ton.

The main buyer, Costa Rica, has followed the trend of purchase prices of the United States, albeit with a lower margin, for one simple reason their geographical proximity reduces transportation costs. In 2010 Costa Ricans paid metric ton in US $ 85 to US $ 312.72 in 2012, beginning a period of low prices to increase to US $ 234.40.

As we have explained in previous publications (see http://apronadpanama.blogspot.com/2015/10/como-funciona-el-reciclaje-en-panama.html ), Panama is an exporter of waste of all kinds through the levels consumption of the population, the result of imports based on a limited basis of agroindustry economy. Thus, the prevailing consumerism in Panama generates raw materials (solid waste) that are used by agribusiness in other countries like Costa Rica. Create a bi-national Waste Exchange would be mutually beneficial.

Additionally, the debate in Panama on the problem of solid waste is completely unfocused. In the media still it raises the need to promote recycling, knowing that already exists in the country a solid recycling sector that has made exports of recyclable materials into a thriving business, yes that needs to be reoriented. Never, to our knowledge, the media of any kind have been invited to participate entrepreneurs in this sector.

Finally, in 2005 the Ministry of Health (MINSA for its acronym in Spanish ) of Panama, with funding from the International Cooperation prepared a National Plan for Comprehensive Management of Waste, Panama, May 2005, and a Business Plan for Solid Waste Management in Panama, 2005. according to the study was required to invest $ US 48.94 million to advance the solution of the inadequate management of solid waste, with special emphasis on the closure of open dumps and landfills replacement manuals, semi-mechanized and mechanized. The investment will be financed by 20% with contributions from the national budget and 80% through a loan agreement with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) (see https://apronadpanama.wordpress.com/analisis-de-alternativas-al-problema-de-los-residuos-solidos-en-panama/)

Ten years later, on March 14, 2016, the newspaper La Prensa, published a story entitled "million dollar bet to eliminate landfills." In the text of the news reports that: "The Authority Urban and Household estimated that one billion dollars is the cost to clean up and eliminate 65 open-air dumps there across the country, besides establishing a national plan on waste management.

Gabriel Church, secretary general of the AAUD, explained that all these aspects are integrated into the "Comprehensive Management Plan Waste Management", which anticipates that institution and that has been partially running.
He cited as an example, and the Spanish state company Engineering and Transport Economics (INECO) takes a consultancy for an amount of $ 4.3 million to establish guidelines, establish a management plan and the main lines of action necessary for sustainable management waste generated in the country" (http://www.prensa.com/sociedad/contaminacion-cielo-abierto_0_4436556398.html).

The news is confusing, because if Ineco is preparing a consultancy "to define guidelines, establish a management plan and the main lines of action necessary", as is the astronomical sum of one billion dollars ahead without having concluded such study? In addition, it has changed to move from an estimated budget of $ 2005 USA 48, another 940,000 to US $ 1,000 million in 2016?