Stay in the Know - Subscribe to Our Newsletters
Join a network of more than 90,000 waste and recycling industry professionals. Get the latest news and insights straight to your inbox. Free.
The more stringent import standards have altered the course of plastic waste worldwide.
1 Min Read
The recent Chinese ban on plastic imports continues its impact around the world, diverting the path of tons of plastic waste generated by the U.S. and other countries. China, which used to accept roughly 50 percent of the world’s plastic waste, has put much stricter, almost impossible, contamination limits in place for its plastic imports.
Scrap is being diverted to other markets, particularly to many Southeast Asian countries such as Malaysia and Vietnam. However, tons of plastic waste will end up in landfills due to an absence of anywhere else to send it.
WYNC has more information:
China takes half of the world’s recyclables, but last year, the nation declared it no longer wanted to be the “world’s garbage dump.” China is starting to implement its latest policy, called the “National Sword,” in its wave of toughening the standards to accept plastics and scrap paper from other countries.
Kate O’Neill is associate professor in the Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management at the University of California, Berkeley. She joins The Takeaway to discuss where our recyclables really go, and the impact of China’s new policies.
About the Author(s)
You May Also Like
Top Stories
