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From Plastic Waste Trade War to Circular Economy

By Trish Hyde and Doug Woodring, Urbanet


In a world reliant on global trade, plastic waste has become toxic. The heady mix of plastic waste, global damage, and national interest has sparked two sparring matches, and another is set to begin. What does it mean and what are the business take-outs?


How it All Started


Western countries have relied on trade under the guise of exporting recyclable resources, when in fact this process was “easy off-shoring” of domestic plastic waste liabilities. As much as 40 per cent of every bale shipped was not able to be recycled in the importing nation, therefore often entering the environment via dumping or toxic, open-flame burning.



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