cross-posted from : https://lemmy.zip/post/63528174

Much of the waste was sent to Turkey, followed by Malaysia, with Indonesia also a regular destination. Investigations have repeatedly linked the plastic recycling industry in these countries to environmental damage, illegal dumping and burning, and labour abuses.

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[–] 5 points 6 months ago*

It's provided free to factories for fuel. This is of course unofficial but very widespread. https://www.asia-pacific-solidarity.net/news/2025-05-10/toxic-tofu-how-plastic-waste-west-fuels-food-factories-indonesia.html

Especially when "recycled" mixed plastic and paper from western recycling programs is exported. The plastic is likely to be burnt to cook food.

Disappointed to see my own country implicated in this.

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    [–] 16 points 6 months ago

    As noted:

    The EU has agreed to ban exports of plastic waste to countries outside the group of mostly rich OECD nations by November 2026, yet half is still being sent to those destinations. Much of the remainder goes to Turkey, now the largest recipients of European plastic waste.

    So that'll be interesting.

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  • [–] 9 points 6 months ago (4 children)

    Sent to a bunch of countries that are just as likely to burn it or dump it in the ocean.

    Yaay.

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  • [–] 9 points 6 months ago (3 children)

    That's what we used to do in Canada until Philippines called us out on our bullshit very publicly. Good for them frankly.

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  • [–] 7 points 6 months ago* (2 children)

    The United States also did it with China, though China would subcontract with Southeast Asian countries who would subsequently dump the plastic in the ocean. Not sure what the tipping point was for the U.S.

    It's almost like we should stop coming up with different ways to sell plastic.

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  • [–] 8 points 6 months ago (1 child)

    this is great news! it means genocide wasn't their biggest export!

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  • [–] 4 points 6 months ago

    Man nennt es recycling oder so.

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