Russia has increased the import of plastic waste from abroad. Thus, in 2018, imports amounted to more than $ 20 million - 32 percent more than a year earlier.

      The analyst at the HSE “Development Centre” Institute Anna Volkova pointed out that the country had no well-functioning system for collecting polymer waste, which, she said, hindered the development of the industry and created a shortage of recycled products.

      They mostly use imported pressed bottles of water and milk. The majority of these waste products are bought from Turkey ($ 6.2 million), Japan ($ 2.8 million) and Belarus ($ 3.1 million). The publication states that at the same time the sales of waste paper abroad are growing. Last year, the exports made up $ 72 million. The bulk of collected raw materials are processed inside the country, and about 10 percent of the total volume is exported.