LONDON — China's ban on importing recycled plastic garbage is causing trash to pile up recycling facilities around the UK.
China imported 7.3 million tons of waste plastic in 2017 from the U.S., the EU, the UK and Japan, Conversation reported.
But starting this year, it is now banning 24 categories of recyclables and solid waste.
Britain alone sends around two thirds — about 500,000 tons — of its recycled plastic garbage to China every year.
Recycling companies are now scrambling to find other markets for their recyclables, the Telegraph reported.
Some UK recycling firms are now looking to Malaysia and Vietnam, however, both those countries have capacity issues.
Unless other alternative markets can be found, the plastics will have to be sent for incineration or dumped in a landfill.
China imported 7.3 million tons of waste plastic in 2017 from the U.S., the EU, the UK and Japan, Conversation reported.
But starting this year, it is now banning 24 categories of recyclables and solid waste.
Britain alone sends around two thirds — about 500,000 tons — of its recycled plastic garbage to China every year.
Recycling companies are now scrambling to find other markets for their recyclables, the Telegraph reported.
Some UK recycling firms are now looking to Malaysia and Vietnam, however, both those countries have capacity issues.
Unless other alternative markets can be found, the plastics will have to be sent for incineration or dumped in a landfill.
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