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Why some countries are shipping back plastic waste | Why some countries are shipping back plastic waste |
(4 days later) | |
A growing number of countries are taking a stand and demanding that nations take back their waste. | A growing number of countries are taking a stand and demanding that nations take back their waste. |
Many wealthy countries send their recyclable waste overseas because it's cheap, helps meet recycling targets and reduces domestic landfill. | Many wealthy countries send their recyclable waste overseas because it's cheap, helps meet recycling targets and reduces domestic landfill. |
For developing countries taking in the rubbish, it's a valuable source of income. | For developing countries taking in the rubbish, it's a valuable source of income. |
But contaminated plastic and rubbish that cannot be recycled often gets mixed in and ends up in illegal processing centres. | But contaminated plastic and rubbish that cannot be recycled often gets mixed in and ends up in illegal processing centres. |
So where is this happening and why is action being taken now? | So where is this happening and why is action being taken now? |
The European Union is the largest exporter of plastic waste, with the US leading as the top exporter for a single country. | The European Union is the largest exporter of plastic waste, with the US leading as the top exporter for a single country. |
But only a tiny fraction of all plastics ever produced has been recycled. | But only a tiny fraction of all plastics ever produced has been recycled. |
Often, materials that can't be recycled end up being burned illegally, dumped in landfills or waterways, creating risks to the environment and public health. | Often, materials that can't be recycled end up being burned illegally, dumped in landfills or waterways, creating risks to the environment and public health. |
Worries about receiving such waste has forced countries to act. | Worries about receiving such waste has forced countries to act. |
The Philippines has just shipped back tonnes of rubbish to Canada that it said was falsely labelled as plastic recycling in 2013 and 2014. | The Philippines has just shipped back tonnes of rubbish to Canada that it said was falsely labelled as plastic recycling in 2013 and 2014. |
This month Malaysia sent back five containers of plastic waste to Spain after it was found to be contaminated. | This month Malaysia sent back five containers of plastic waste to Spain after it was found to be contaminated. |
Malaysia says up to 3,000 tonnes of rubbish will soon be returned to the UK, US, Japan, China, Canada, Australia, the Netherlands, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Bangladesh, Norway and France. | Malaysia says up to 3,000 tonnes of rubbish will soon be returned to the UK, US, Japan, China, Canada, Australia, the Netherlands, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Bangladesh, Norway and France. |
To understand why these countries were swamped with so much waste, you need to look to China. | To understand why these countries were swamped with so much waste, you need to look to China. |
Until January 2018, China imported most of the world's plastic waste. | Until January 2018, China imported most of the world's plastic waste. |
But due to concerns about contamination and pollution, it declared it would no longer buy recycled plastic scrap that was not 99.5% pure. | But due to concerns about contamination and pollution, it declared it would no longer buy recycled plastic scrap that was not 99.5% pure. |
The impact of China's ban | The impact of China's ban |
Global plastic waste exports fell - dipping by almost half by the end of 2018, compared with 2016 levels, according to Greenpeace analysis. | Global plastic waste exports fell - dipping by almost half by the end of 2018, compared with 2016 levels, according to Greenpeace analysis. |
There were reports of plastic waste ready for export piling up, and some was diverted to other countries. | There were reports of plastic waste ready for export piling up, and some was diverted to other countries. |
Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Taiwan, South Korea, Turkey, India and Poland all took up the slack. | Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Taiwan, South Korea, Turkey, India and Poland all took up the slack. |
Malaysia took a major share - the plastic waste it imported from 10 countries in just the first six months of 2018 was nearly as much as the total it received in 2016 and 2017. | Malaysia took a major share - the plastic waste it imported from 10 countries in just the first six months of 2018 was nearly as much as the total it received in 2016 and 2017. |
But the rubbish arriving in these countries wasn't sufficiently recyclable, and it has caused problems. | But the rubbish arriving in these countries wasn't sufficiently recyclable, and it has caused problems. |
The UK has been singled out by the Malaysian government. | The UK has been singled out by the Malaysian government. |
"What the citizens of the UK believe they send for recycling is actually dumped in our country," said Malaysian Minister Yeo Bee Yin. | "What the citizens of the UK believe they send for recycling is actually dumped in our country," said Malaysian Minister Yeo Bee Yin. |
Countries taking action | Countries taking action |
Importing countries have found the surge of waste difficult to manage and this has led to new controls in some countries. | Importing countries have found the surge of waste difficult to manage and this has led to new controls in some countries. |
Poland, in May last year, announced tougher rules after multiple fires at waste dumps, and linked the rise in illegal rubbish imports to the China ban. | Poland, in May last year, announced tougher rules after multiple fires at waste dumps, and linked the rise in illegal rubbish imports to the China ban. |
Thailand has temporarily prohibited plastic waste imports and says it will implement a full ban by 2021. | Thailand has temporarily prohibited plastic waste imports and says it will implement a full ban by 2021. |
Malaysia has revoked import permits and has been clamping down on illegal processing plants. | Malaysia has revoked import permits and has been clamping down on illegal processing plants. |
Vietnam is no longer issuing new licences and will bar all imports of plastic scrap by 2025. | Vietnam is no longer issuing new licences and will bar all imports of plastic scrap by 2025. |
In October, Taiwan said it will only import single source plastic waste. | In October, Taiwan said it will only import single source plastic waste. |
India expanded its ban on solid plastic waste imports this March. | India expanded its ban on solid plastic waste imports this March. |
However, there is still an overwhelming demand for locations to send plastic and other waste to for recycling, and the challenge of how to dispose of it remains. | However, there is still an overwhelming demand for locations to send plastic and other waste to for recycling, and the challenge of how to dispose of it remains. |
There are indications that after some initial success of the import restrictions, these countries are starting to take in larger volumes of waste again. | There are indications that after some initial success of the import restrictions, these countries are starting to take in larger volumes of waste again. |
The Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (Gaia) says after a clear dip, "imports have begun rising again in the last quarter of 2018, suggesting challenges in enforcing respective country bans". | The Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (Gaia) says after a clear dip, "imports have begun rising again in the last quarter of 2018, suggesting challenges in enforcing respective country bans". |
In 2016, 235 million tonnes of plastic waste was generated globally. | |
On current trends, this could reach 417 million tonnes per year by 2030. | |
Read more from Reality Check | Read more from Reality Check |
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