Latin America wants to stop importing plastic waste



The United States has doubled its exports of plastic waste to some countries in Latin America in the short term. This is the result of a study by the Lost Beach Cleanup Group, based on data from the first seven months of last year.

There are ecosystems all over Latin America In a consideration of the study The United States has been called upon to reduce plastic waste exports to the region.

China

The United States is the world’s largest exporter of plastic waste. Until the middle of the last decade, China was the largest importer of these waste streams. However, the Asian country decided to close its borders to waste.

However, exporters of plastic waste began to look for other buyers. As for the United States, it was primarily Latin America, and its proximity and cheap labor made it a rewarding place for American plastic waste.

More than 75 percent of Latin America’s plastic waste imports go to Mexico (32,650 tons), El Salvador (4,054 tons) and Ecuador (3,665 tons).

A report by the Global Coalition for Energy Alternatives (Gaia) argued that imports were increasing as US and Chinese companies in Latin America invested in recycling plants to handle U.S. waste plastic waste.

Ecological colonization

Critics have branded these practices as a form of environmental colonialism. An international agreement was signed two years ago to curb the flow of plastic waste from developed countries in the north to poorer countries in the south.

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However, the United States has not ratified the agreement and has been accused of exporting its waste to countries around the world – Africa, Southeast Asia and Latin America.

“Recycling is often mislabeled as a positive act,” Gaya added. “Rich countries are proud to recycle their waste, but have failed to make efforts to reduce their waste production.”

(LP)

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