Recyclable commodities flow across borders. We manage the trade.

The global waste management and recycling industry is undergoing a structural transformation driven by resource scarcity, circular economy mandates, and rising landfill costs. For US buyers, Latin America and Africa represent an increasingly critical supply base for secondary raw materials — from scrap metals and recovered plastics to recycled paper and e-waste fractions. At the same time, waste management firms in these regions see the United States as the world’s largest market for recyclable commodities, with demand growing for responsibly sourced, certified materials.

This page outlines the key trade flows, regulatory landscape, and practical steps for companies operating in this vertical.

Why Waste Management & Recycling Matters for US-LATAM-Africa Trade

Waste management is no longer a local utility function — it is a global commodity chain. The US imported over $2.3 billion worth of recycled paper, scrap metals, and plastic waste from Latin America and Africa in 2022, according to UN Comtrade data. Meanwhile, US exports of waste and scrap to these regions reached $5.6 billion in the same year, driven by demand for ferrous scrap in Turkey, India, and increasingly in Latin American steel mills.

The circular economy push in the US, combined with tightening restrictions on waste exports under the Basel Convention, has created new compliance requirements and market opportunities for suppliers who can demonstrate environmental stewardship.

Exporting Waste Management & Recycling to the US: Key Products and Buyer Types

Latin America and Africa supply a diverse range of recyclable commodities to the US market. The most significant product categories include:

Ferrous and non-ferrous scrap metals — Brazil, Mexico, and South Africa are among the top suppliers of copper, aluminum, and steel scrap to US processors and foundries. US buyers include metal recyclers, steel mini-mills, and secondary smelters who require consistent quality and low contamination levels.

Recovered paper and cardboard — Colombia, Peru, and Egypt export significant volumes of old corrugated containers (OCC) and mixed paper to US paper mills, which use them to produce recycled containerboard and tissue products. The US is the world’s largest importer of recovered paper, with imports valued at $1.1 billion in 2022 (UN Comtrade).

Post-consumer and post-industrial plastics — PET, HDPE, and PP bales from countries like Chile, Nigeria, and Kenya are increasingly sought after by US reclaimers, especially for food-grade and high-value applications. The US plastic scrap import market was worth $480 million in 2022, with Latin America accounting for 35% of supply.

E-waste fractions — Printed circuit boards, batteries, and precious-metal-bearing components from dismantling operations in Ghana, South Africa, and Mexico are exported to specialized US refiners and recyclers. This segment is highly regulated under EPA rules and requires rigorous chain-of-custody documentation.

Importing Waste Management & Recycling from the US: Use Cases and Market Context

US exports of waste and scrap to Latin America and Africa serve a different set of end-users. The largest category is ferrous scrap, which feeds electric arc furnace steel production in countries like Turkey, Brazil, and Egypt. In 2022, the US exported $4.2 billion in ferrous scrap globally, with Latin America and Africa absorbing roughly 25% of that volume. Other major export categories include:

Waste paper — US mixed paper and OCC are used by Latin American and African mills to produce packaging and newsprint. Mexico alone imported $340 million in recovered paper from the US in 2022.

Plastic scrap — US exporters ship sorted plastic bales to recyclers in India, Vietnam, and increasingly to facilities in Kenya and Nigeria, where demand for recycled resin is growing due to local packaging regulations.

Used electronics and vehicles — While subject to strict export controls, used electronics and end-of-life vehicles are exported from the US to Latin America for refurbishment and parts recovery. This trade is governed by EPA and BIS regulations.

Regulatory and Compliance Overview

Navigating waste trade regulations is the single biggest challenge for companies in this vertical. Key frameworks include:

Basel Convention — The US is not a party to the Basel Convention but has implemented its provisions through bilateral agreements and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). Exports of hazardous waste and certain e-waste fractions require prior notification and consent from the receiving country.

EPA Export Requirements — The US Environmental Protection Agency requires exporters of hazardous waste, cathode ray tubes, and used batteries to file export notices and obtain consent from the destination country. Non-compliance can result in penalties of up to $70,000 per day.

ISRI Specifications — The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries publishes widely used grading standards for scrap metals, paper, and plastics. US buyers typically require materials to meet ISRI-200 or ISRI-201 grades for ferrous scrap and PS-2000 for paper.

Customs and Tariffs — Most recyclable commodities enter the US duty-free under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) chapters 47 (paper), 72-73 (metals), and 39 (plastics). However, country-specific anti-dumping duties apply to certain steel and aluminum products.

Countries and Trade Corridors

Active trade corridors in waste management and recycling include:

• Mexico-US: The largest bilateral recyclables corridor, with $1.2 billion in two-way trade in 2022. Key hubs: Nuevo Laredo, El Paso, Laredo.
• Brazil-US: Brazil is the top Latin American supplier of ferrous scrap to the US, particularly from São Paulo and Rio Grande do Sul.
• South Africa-US: South Africa exports platinum-group metal scrap, copper, and aluminum to US refiners. Durban and Cape Town are primary ports.
• Colombia-US: Colombia is a leading supplier of recovered paper, with Cartagena and Buenaventura as key export points.
• Egypt-US: Egypt exports scrap metals and recycled paper to US buyers, with Alexandria as the main gateway.
• Kenya-US: Kenya is an emerging supplier of plastic scrap and e-waste fractions, driven by growing recycling infrastructure in Nairobi.

How Coppermont Advisory Works for This Vertical

For companies in waste management and recycling, market entry and cross-border sourcing require more than a logistics solution — they demand deep knowledge of commodity specifications, regulatory compliance, and buyer-supplier matching. The advisory process typically follows three phases:

Phase 1 — Market Assessment: A review of target US market segments, including end-user profiles, pricing benchmarks, and certification requirements (e.g., ISRI, EPA consent). This phase identifies the most viable products and buyer channels.

Phase 2 — Compliance and Documentation: Assistance with EPA export notifications, Basel Convention procedures, and customs classification. This includes preparing chain-of-custody records and lab analysis reports required by US buyers.

Phase 3 — Trade Matching and Negotiation: Introduction to vetted US buyers or Latin American/African suppliers, contract support, and logistics coordination. The goal is to establish long-term off-take agreements that meet quality and volume commitments.

Whether you are a recycler in Santiago looking to sell PET bales to a US reclaimer, or a US paper mill seeking consistent OCC supply from Colombia, a structured advisory approach reduces risk and accelerates time to revenue.