The problem of global waste is becoming the most emerging crisis in the 21st century. Even though developed countries are aware of pollution’s danger, taking certain steps to solve this problem, the situation has not changed dramatically. One of the issues discussed by O’Neill is waste trading; this practice is contradictory in terms of global waste management (16). Banning the shipment across national frontiers, especially from more prosperous to South countries, has long been the solution (O’Neill 17). O’Neill suggested improving waste trading, making it more effective (17). However, until the developed North countries sell their waste to the poorer countries, which do not have resources to recycle it, this management approach is inappropriate.
Some of the waste has been exported for many years to developing countries, which have recently opposed turning their territory into landfills. For instance, the United States and other developed countries have shipped most of their waste products to China (Wang et al. 5). In 2018, Beijing restricted the import of 24 categories of waste to improve its environmental situation (Wang et al. 6). This has led to the situation when developed countries of Europe and North America have redirected plastic waste destinations and exported it to Southeast Asian countries.
Nevertheless, other states also refuse to accept the trash, introducing additional restrictions. India, Indonesia and Malaysia began returning plastic waste containers to developed countries if they found different waste types (Wang et al. 7). Therefore, decreasing waste trading will stimulate the implementation of innovative programs to achieve the goal of “zero waste”, such as preventing waste production and its recycling. Thus, the world should seriously consider the problem of waste management instead of focusing on trade.
Works Cited
O’Neill, Kate. “The new global political economy of waste.” A Research Agenda for Global Environmental Politics. Edward Elgar Publishing, 2018.
Wang, Chao, et al. “Structure of the global plastic waste trade network and the impact of China’s import Ban.” Resources, Conservation and Recycling, no. 153, 2020, p. 1-12.