> Is plastic waste that much of a problem in first world countries? Yes is the answer... A lot of the plastic waste from first world countries gets shipped to

> Is plastic waste that much of a problem in first world countries? Yes is the answer... A lot of the plastic waste from first world countries gets shipped to Asia (very cheap; the container ships are much emptier going back...). China received so much plastic waste that in January it banned imports. Consequently shipments to other Asian countries have skyrocketed. Many of these countries have terrible records for the amount of waste plastic washed into the ocean. Some UK statistics: - 475,000 tonnes of household plastic waste is recycled per year - 800,000 tonnes of plastic waste [i.e. not all household] is exported to China, Vietnam, Thailand, etc. - Those three countries are in the top 10 for plastic waste reaching the ocean. Sources: - https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/uk-plastic-pollution-oceans-recycling-export-waste-malaysia-vietnam-thailand-a8400761.html https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/uk-plastic-polluti... - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-42456584 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-42456584