...it's complicated.
China's ban on plastic waste import shook Europe to it's core and created 2 powerful cliches.
CLICHE 1
SE Asia is now being polluted by Europe's Plastic Waste Exports
SPOILER
Before the ban the emerging economy Thailand exported more plastic waste to China than Germany. Here is a good read: https://lnkd.in/fJUfFpm
New imports add to, but certainly don't cause the plastic waste crisis in SE Asia.
CLICHE 2
China's ban ends an international value chain in pladtic recycling
SPOILER
Plastic waste exports to China - whether from the EU or ASEAN - didn't go to 'recycling heaven', but the world leader in plastic waste mismanagement and ocean plastic pollution. See this chart https://lnkd.in/fMfp9bR
Seems to me as yet another case of cognitive dissonance when it comes to waste.
What can be done?
Nothing will likely change without
- implementation of mechanized, automated, industrial-scale recycling capacities
and - above all -
- substantial increase in demand for recycled vs.virgin plastic products
In both 'worlds' industrialized and emerging, Germany and Thailand.
European Recyclers should take responsibility for their exported waste and build recycling facilities in SE Asia.
Read more here: https://www.cbethai.com/solutions
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