It has come to a point where environmentalists are asking people to please throw their plastic waste in the garbage where it can at least go to a landfill instead of ending up in the ocean.
Why is it getting shipped off instead of recycled?
Simple. It’s cheaper.
It is even cheaper to make new plastic than to recycle.
It got so bad that China banned scrap plastics imports in 2018.
In the modern era, one would anticipate a surge in recycling initiatives. However, the current scenario paints a different picture. Here’s a closer look:
- Economic considerations: Recycling processes can be financially draining. In many cases, it’s more economical to ship waste to locations with lower disposal costs, a trend discussed in a World Bank report.
- Infrastructure limitations: Not all regions have the infrastructure to recycle specific…