Since 2018, China has decided not to be the "world's largest garbage dump" and has stopped importing more than 20 kinds of recyclable waste from various countries. This move has sparked a ripple effect on a global scale, with waste disposal struggling in many countries.
In 2018, the Chinese government launched an initiative called "Sword of the Nation", announcing that it would no longer import recyclable waste from foreign countries. This decision is not unmotivated, but is based on long-term considerations for environmental protection and domestic waste management capacity.
Prior to this, China was the world's largest importer of waste, processing tens of millions of tons of waste each year from developed countries such as Europe and the United States. Most of this waste is not generated in China, but is transferred from developed countries, with the intention of taking advantage of China's lower disposal costs.
The Chinese government's decision came into effect, and the global recycling market felt the impact immediately. Many developed countries suddenly find that the waste they use for export has nowhere to go but to accumulate in their own countries.
It also exposes the actual amount of waste produced in these countries, revealing a problem that cannot be ignored: in a world where the issue of environmental protection is becoming increasingly important, simply exporting waste to developing countries is no longer a viable solution.
As one of the most developed countries in the world, the United States has completed the industrialization process early, and with the high-consumption lifestyle, the output of non-degradable waste such as plastics is huge.
According to statistics, the United States accounts for 4.3% of the world's population, but the amount of plastic waste that can be produced is staggering. After China stopped importing garbage, the United States became the largest producer of plastic waste.
Some organizations in the United States are opposed to calls to reduce plastic waste, preferring to maintain the status quo and address domestic environmental pressures by exporting waste.
This approach became unworkable after China closed its "garbage gate". The U.S. can no longer shift environmental pressures as easily as it used to, which directly leads to increased pressure on domestic waste disposal.
Global concern for environmental protection is increasing, and the disposal of non-degradable substances such as plastics has become an international topic. The problem of garbage disposal in the United States, especially plastic waste, has become the focus of attention of environmental groups around the world.
This is not a national problem, but a big issue related to the global ocean and ecological environment. Scientists have proven that microplastics ultimately affect human health through the food chain.
Waste treatment facilities and recycling systems in the U.S. face significant challenges. These facilities were not originally designed to handle such large amounts of waste. Before China stopped importing, a large part of the plastic waste was exported to China. Now this waste is returning to the local area, which increases the cost of disposal and also exacerbates the pressure on the local environment.
One of the biggest challenges for U.S. cities is how to upgrade their existing waste sorting and recycling systems to be able to handle more homegrown waste. This includes investing in more advanced recycling technologies and expanding existing treatment facilities.
Faced with the closure of the Chinese market, the United States had to look for other countries as destinations for its waste exports. These new export destinations, such as some countries in Southeast Asia, are beginning to assume a role similar to China's.
However, as the international community becomes more aware of environmental protection, these countries have also begun to impose stricter import restrictions, and the United States' export strategy is once again facing challenges.
The transition from dependence on external exports to strengthening internal processing, from neglect to environmental protection, has been difficult. The example of the United States is also a reminder to other countries that environmental problems are global and that any country should focus on and address them.
A decision by China has changed the pattern of the global waste cycle, prompting other countries, especially large countries like the United States, to recalibrate their environmental policies.