The West's discarded plastic, electronics and other waste often ends up in developing countries, where it is incinerated, dumped or improperly processed, exposing local communities to toxic pollution.
Alexander Clapp writes for The New York Times.
In short:
- Despite global agreements like the Basel Convention, Western nations continue to ship waste to poorer countries, often under the guise of recycling.
- Electronics, plastics and industrial waste accumulate in places like Ghana, Indonesia and Kenya, harming human health and the environment.
- The global waste trade is a multibillion-dollar industry, with plastic alone making up a significant portion of international supply chains.
Key quote:
“We ship our waste to the other side of the planet not only because we produce far too much of it but also because we insist on an environment exorcised of our own material footprints.”
— Alexander Clapp, journalist and author
Why this matters:
Developing nations bear the brunt of the West's waste, suffering severe environmental and health consequences. Toxic chemicals from burning plastics pollute air and water, while microplastics infiltrate food supplies. The illusion of plastic recycling allows consumers to believe they are making sustainable choices when, in reality, much of their waste fuels an unregulated and harmful global industry. With plastic waste linked to hundreds of thousands of deaths annually, the impact of this hidden crisis is staggering.
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