Where Does Your Waste Really Go? The Global Cost of Recycling

As climate change and waste continue to escalate globally, it’s crucial to understand the connection between these two urgent issues. Recycling is key to addressing climate change by conserving raw materials and reducing waste in landfills, helping to lower overall environmental impact.

Have you ever wondered where your recyclables—plastic bottles, paper and cardboard, glass bottles, and jars—go after your local waste disposal company collects them? The answer varies depending on the country in which you live.

When looking at the largest waste-producing countries in the world, one might expect the highest waste generation to come from China, the country with the largest population at 1.4 billion. Indeed, China produces over 15% of the world’s municipal solid waste. The United States ranks second, contributing 12% of global waste despite having only 5% of the world’s total population.

The U.S. leads in terms of municipal solid waste produced per person per day, generating an average of 2.58 kilograms, followed by Canada at 2.33 kilograms and Australia at 2.23 kilograms.

Developed countries currently have access to more goods than ever before, but an increase in goods results in more waste. Population growth leads to higher product demand, further exacerbating waste generation. Unfortunately, much of this waste is exported to poor countries for processing and recycling after being sorted.

Ironically, these poorer nations often lack adequate waste collection or processing systems, leading to much of the waste being burned or disposed of carelessly. This practice can cause significant pollution and serious health problems.

An example is found in Agbogbloshie, Ghana, which is known as the world’s largest digital dumpsite. Electronic waste, or E-waste, such as old computers and electrical appliances, is transported here from wealthy countries. The toxic chemicals and heavy metals contained in these wastes are causing serious health problems for the sorters in the area, some of whom have tragically died from cancer at a young age.

While the problems caused by plastic waste are often highlighted, especially the harm and pollution it is causing rivers and oceans, their ecosystems and wildlife, statistics show that e-waste is the fastest-growing waste issue globally.

The Economist reviewed Alexander Clapp’s book Waste Wars, which investigates where recyclables from the West ultimately end up. The author discovered these materials in Indonesian villages, Turkey’s ship-breaking yards, and the slums of Ghana, where valuable metals are extracted from discarded computers and mobile phones.

The book also recounts a story about a ship carrying incinerator ash from Philadelphia in 1986, which, after being turned away from the port in the Bahamas and multiple others, ended up dumping its load into the Atlantic and Indian Oceans.

While some of these exports have been beneficial, such as China using plastic waste as feedstock and Turkey and India repurposing scrap metal from the U.S., including steel from the New York twin towers into highways, buildings, and skyscrapers, many shipments have turned out to be mere piles of rubbish that pollute the receiving countries.

The environmental and health concerns arising from these exported wastes are prompting nations to enforce bans. In 2017, China banned plastic waste destined for recycling. Similar bans in Indonesia and Thailand are set to take effect in 2025. If governments enforce these bans, garbage will only find its way to other countries, like Malaysia.

So, what should be done about the enormous amount of waste generated daily? Waste is a complex issue as it is closely linked to the production of goods, particularly in China, a manufacturing power. The overproduction of goods in China is driven by global demand, and Western countries benefit from the low prices of these products.

As the global population grows and consumption increases, so does the amount of waste. Although many Western countries have advanced waste management systems and the capacity to sort, recycle, and dispose of waste, many still end up in poorer nations, becoming their dumping grounds.

While it is important to encourage Western countries to reduce their consumption and waste, doing the same for emerging economies in Asia is more challenging. These countries have populations that are emerging from poverty and, for the first time, are purchasing and enjoying consumer goods.