Once a Global Dumping Ground, China Tells the World: Clean Up After Yourself

Click on the 'Listen' button above to hear this segment

China takes half of the world’s recyclables, but last year, the nation declared it no longer wanted to be the “world’s garbage dump.” China is starting to implement its latest policy, called the “National Sword,” in its wave of toughening the standards to accept plastics and scrap paper from other countries.

Kate O’Neill is associate professor in the Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management at the University of California, Berkeley. She joins The Takeaway to discuss where our recyclables really go, and the impact of China’s new policies.

This segment is hosted by Todd Zwillich