The US has a significant plastic waste problem, with much of it being sent to other countries, particularly China, for recycling. However, China has stopped accepting America's "foreign garbage" due to environmental and health concerns, and other countries in Asia are following suit. This has led to a massive buildup of plastic waste in the US, with many recyclables piling up due to the lack of a clear recycling system. The current recycling process is flawed, with many people incorrectly recycling or "contaminating" their recyclables, making them unusable. To address this issue, individuals are encouraged to reduce their plastic usage, and governments need to develop more effective recycling systems.
Here are the key facts from the text:
1. America's main export to China by volume was trash, including recycled metal, cardboard, and plastic.
2. For decades, China received nearly half of all the recycling that Americans shipped out of the country.
3. In January, China stopped taking most of the dirty recycling, which it called "foreign garbage".
4. Seven million tons of plastic needs to be recycled elsewhere.
5. Cambodia sent back 83 shipping containers filled with 1,600 tons of plastic waste to the U.S. and Canada.
6. The Philippines president, Rodrigo Duterte, told Canada to take back its trash and even suggested they eat it.
7. Many countries in Asia, including Cambodia, Malaysia, and the Philippines, have decided to stop accepting Western trash.
8. A lot of plastic in the U.S. is piling up because it's not being recycled.
9. Cities across the country are re-examining their recycling programs to see if they're effective.
10. Incorrect recycling of plastic is worse than not recycling it at all.
11. To recycle plastic correctly, you need to take the lid off the bottle, remove the ring underneath, and wash the container thoroughly.
12. Using less plastic is a possible solution to the recycling problem.