China’s Waste Import Ban Causing Recyclables to be Sent to Landfill

Americans recycle about 66 million tons of recyclables per year, but now, instead of being able to process and send a large portion of that material overseas to China, companies and individuals are forced to find new homes for the materials.

China rolled out its waste import ban and new contamination standard earlier this year, and since then, the recycling industry has faced a number of challenges, such as collecting and processing cleaner material and finding new markets for recyclables.

While recycling companies and individual recyclers search for new markets, many are forced to landfill the material simply because recyclables are entering facilities at a fast pace and there is no place to put it all.

NBC News has more information:

China stopped accepting America’s recycling in January. Now, much of U.S. recycled materials are being diverted to landfills.

Read the full story here.