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You're assuming that the plastic that gets sold is the same plastic that ends up in the rivers. Do we know that's the case? And if so, how does it go from being
by sparky_z 5y ago
You're assuming that the plastic that gets sold is the same plastic that ends up in the rivers. Do we know that's the case? And if so, how does it go from being "in the system" to being discarded into the environment? Why would they pay money for it, just to throw it in a river?
- lucasyvas 5y agoI wasn't trying to make an assumption - the report just didn't read how I expected. And I'm not absolving them of responsibility, but the richest countries pay to offload plastic on them knowing pretty well there is no way to get rid of it besides tossing it. Those Asian regions that burn it have awful air quality issues. Should these regions refuse money for our plastic? Probably - but this paints an incomplete picture.
- wombatmobile 5y agoWhere Will Your Plastic Trash Go Now That China Doesn't Want It? https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2019/03/13/702501726/where-will-your-plastic-trash-go-now-that-china-doesnt-want-it https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2019/03/13/7025017... Plastic garbage from Trader Joe's and an AARP card are peeking out of hillocks of plastic trash piling up in Indonesia. It's a sign of a new global quandary: What should wealthy countries do with their plastic waste now that China no longer is buying it?
- ectopod 5y agoAsian importers pay for containers of clean, recyclable waste from the UK. When it arrives they find they've got a container full of general household waste, which is of no use for anything. I don't know how common this is but there have been several UK companies prosecuted for it. I've also seen stories where British reporters have gone to Asia and documented piles of obviously British waste in local dumps. These stories crop up in the British media quite frequently.