Sourcing glass cullet and glass scrap from China
Cullet and other waste and scrap of glass from China, and glass in the mass including optical glass, pay 0% UK duty on all three lines of heading 7001, with no anti-dumping duty. The cullet line carries the waste import control, so documents must be settled before shipping. Buyers check colour sorting, particle size and contamination by ceramics, stones and metals.
0% duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 28 September 2026, heading 7001 covers cullet and other waste and scrap of glass, excluding glass from cathode-ray tubes or other activated glass, and glass in the mass. All three lines carried 0% on goods from China, with no anti-dumping measure.
The cullet and scrap line carries the waste import control: material that is still waste needs the information document for green-list waste, or notification and consent for notifiable waste, before it leaves China; material that is not waste clears on a declaration. Glass from cathode-ray tubes is excluded from this heading; confirm the commodity code.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cullet and other waste and scrap of glass | 7001 00 10 00 | 0% | None |
| Glass in the mass, optical glass | 7001 00 91 00 | 0% | None |
| Glass in the mass, other | 7001 00 99 00 | 0% | None |
Specifying cullet
Specify glass type (container, flat, borosilicate, optical), colour sorting, particle size range, contamination limits for ceramics, stones and porcelain, metals and organics, moisture, and bulk bags or loose loading. For optical glass in the mass, specify the glass type, refractive index and homogeneity.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 100 tonnes of sorted flint cullet under 7001 00 10 00, invoiced at £6,000 free on board, with £5,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £11,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £11,000, so it is £2,200. With no duty, the only import tax is the VAT, which a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Sorting: check colour and glass type on samples.
Contamination: check ceramics, stones and metals.
Documents: check waste classification before loading. See our quality inspection guide.
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What goes wrong
Cullet orders fail on contamination and waste documents. Ceramic and stone contamination causes defects in the furnace, colours are mixed, and shipment documents are not arranged before loading.
Cambridge China Bridge sources materials for UK manufacturers with documents agreed before shipment. See factory verification.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on glass cullet from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 28 September 2026, cullet under 7001 00 10 00 carried 0% from China.
Is cullet controlled as waste on import?
The cullet line carries the waste control. Waste needs the green-list information document or notification; material that is not waste clears on a declaration.
Is optical glass in the mass in heading 7001?
Yes, under 7001 00 91 00, at 0%.
Why does contamination matter?
Ceramics and stones do not melt with glass and cause defects in new glass.