RECYCLING’S PATH TO A GREENER FUTURE

The bans in China on the import of different recyclables have shown the weakness in the United States’ recycling infrastructure.

Starting in 2017, China installed a ban under Operation National Sword that barred the import of certain waste products. The next two years, it kept adding more and more products to that list. According to the University of Georgia, this ban has displaced over 100 million tons of plastic waste.

All this plastic has to go somewhere – and after the ban, plastic imports from the U.S increased in the countries of Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, and elsewhere. However, these countries don’t have as many resources to deal with plastic waste, so the U.S. has to find new ways to deal with the refuse.

Why is exporting plastic waste to other countries bad? These countries weren’t prepared for this influx of plastic waste, and they don’t have stringent environmental protection regulations. U.S. waste management companies have taken an “out of sight, out of mind” approach. The consequences are a huge negative impact on these nations, and on the world. Without the proper recycling infrastructure, these countries may incinerate, dump the plastics, or pursue other harmful actions. Incinerating releases harmful chemicals into the atmosphere that can poison people and the animals nearby. Dumping can also affect humans and animals by contaminating water sources and food sources.

The good news is that according to Statista, our plastic waste exports have decreased. In 2017, the start of the ban, the United States exported 3.68 billion pounds of plastic waste. In 2021, we exported only 1.21 billion pounds.

This is a great improvement, but still a lot of plastic waste. This is where the EPA’s National Recycling Strategy comes into play. The goal of this plan is to achieve a “circular economy.” In the EPA’s words, a circular economy “keeps materials, products, and services in circulation for as long possible.” The agency goes on to say that achieving a circular economy will slow climate change while lifting the burden on underserved communities by reducing the waste shipped to landfills and other places that produce harmful effects.

One aspect of achieving this circular economy is by improving our own “national municipal solid waste recycling system.” This would require improving education so people know what they can and cannot recycle, while also improving the infrastructure here so we have the capacity to handle recycling within our borders. According to the EPA, this is only one step in a series of steps to achieve a circular economy.

While we as consumers don’t have much control over the EPA, we do have control of what we individually recycle. Making sure you recycle the right things improves the state of our planet by making sure they are reused, or properly disposed of. The problem is often that it’s be complicated to know what you can and cannot recycle.

To help, the Advocate has posted some graphics here to let you know what you can and cannot recycle in our area. These guidelines are subject to change, and vary from specific area to area. Be sure to check your local waste management agency’s website for information on what you can or cannot dispose.

While the U.S. still has a lot to do in terms of fixing its recycling problem, we are taking steps in the right direction by minimizing our export, and pushing development of systems to achieve a circular economy. Ultimately, though, recycling starts with the consumer – you – and in order for the country to minimize the negative impacts on our planet we each have to do our part by recycling the right things.

Kane Finders