More than a third of the waste paper and plastic collected by British authorities, supermarkets and businesses for recycling is being sent 8,000 miles to China without any knowledge of the environmental or social costs.
New government suggest that exports to China are running at 200,000 tonnes of plastic rubbish and 500,000 tonnes of paper and cardboard a year - a huge increase on just three years ago.
Much of the plastic sent to China is packaging but Chinese companies are now buying up and exporting thousands of tonnes of unwashed bottles, containers, and other household waste.
China does the global waste trade, importing more than 3 tonnes of waste plastic and 15 tonnes of paper and board a year. But the trade is being driven equally by EU legislation, forcing local authorities and businesses to recycle more than ever. It is cheaper to send the waste abroad. Major companies have moved in, offering to collect and dispose of large quantities.
For more information please go on http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2004/sep/20/environment.china
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1 comment:
Leo, remember that all the words in your post must be your words and not those from the article. Good job though in finding and highlighting the main facts.
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