Moroccan Lawmakers Push for Continued European Waste Imports, Citing Economic Benefits

While MP Khalid Hatimi, from the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), defended the importance of importing European waste for the Moroccan economy, MP Hussein Ben Tayeb, agreeing with him, declared that the import of rubber waste is a real wealth and is beneficial for many Moroccan companies.

MP Driss El Sentissi, chairman of the parliamentary group of the Popular Movement (MP), for his part, proposed an amendment on the taxation of plastic, metal and used tire waste, requesting the application of a 40% import duty. The increase in this tax is necessary to preserve local waste as well as the environment, he added.

For Abdellah Bouanou, from the Party of Justice and Development (PJD), it is important to differentiate between the import of used tires and the import of new tires, calling for the recovery of local waste. "What is the point of importing these rubbers and tires?" he asked.

The import of plastic waste is not intended to pollute Morocco, reacted Fouzi Lekjaa, the minister delegate for the budget, indicating that the import of this waste by Moroccan companies is subject to prior authorization from the Ministries of Energy and Commerce. Moreover, their transformation is carried out according to a specification, added Lekjaa, stating that some local industries use this waste to produce energy.