End Plastic Pollution, China's ban on recyclables, countries hit the hardest, is there a solution? Read and decide.

  The subject of recycling is huge, worldwide we generate an enormous amount of trash, much of it is degradable, the plastic is not. I am still writing under the theme "End Plastic Pollution", the 2018 Earth Day slogan, the place to start is where it is generated, from there each one of us must do our part. It's all part of being or becoming Self-reliant, Self-aware, and recognizing Personal-responsibility, which make up my trinity of being a responsible citizen of the world. 

  I am spending this week dedicated to "Earth Day" which was last Sunday, April 22, 2018, with the theme "End Plastic Pollution". In this blog I will talk about recycling plastic waste, Recycling has taken a turn lately in that China is no longer accepting 24 varieties of solid waste, including unsorted paper and plastics. China enacted its ban beginning January 1, 2018, China later expanded the list to include dozens of more materials, steel waste, used auto parts, and decommissioned ships. It has rendered consequences for Countries, and Cities that has left them scrambling for a solution. A town in Australia is now sending all of their re-recyclable materials to landfills, they can no longer afford to reclaim it. The United Kingdom is currently hoarding low-grade plastics in storage facilities which will most likely end up being incinerated. The ban is forcing some manufacturers to use new raw materials due to the disruption this ban has created, according to the US Institute of Scrap Recycling. The effect the ban is having on the United States, Japan, Australia, and many others has been like awakening a giant from a deep sleep, it was so easy when China bought our waste and took care of it responsibly. A case in point is the United States exported 31% of our plastic waste to China in 2017, the United Kingdom sent 100% of their re-recyclable plastic to China, and Hong Kong. Some countries are exploring imposing taxes on some items to encourage people to use less plastic, others are investing millions of dollars in local communities to assist governing councils in dealing with what is now a plastic "crisis".  I will continue in this article with the issues pertaining to China's change of policy as far as importing trash is concerned. (Follow this Link to an article describing the new policy)
  There are seven grades of plastics, some are suitable for re-cycling others are not, China's ban is in the lowest grades of plastic waste. I have listed the grades below with a short description of their uses: (Follow this Link for a more detailed definition.)

1)  Polyethylene terephthalate (Polyester): Used in Bottles, fruit juice, water, salad dressing, peanut butter, and microwaveable food trays. Used also as padding, insulation, wire insulation, tire reinforcement, conveyor belts, coated fabrics, and tarps.
  It is recycled for use in polyester fiber for fleece clothing, tote bags, and pallet strapping.
  It is what is called "Downcycling" which means the recycled material is a lower grade than the original PET material, it is used for low-quality products until it can no longer be used, then it goes to a landfill. It is advised to avoid PET materials due to the toxic chemicals it releases antimony and phthalates. (Link here)
  China will no longer accept this plastic.

2)  High-density polyethylene (HDPE): One of the most used plastics in the world, Polyethylene Polymer is the most basic chemical structure of any plastic polymer, it is extremely easy and inexpensive to manufacture making its use as packing material cost effective. It displays properties of stiffness, it is waterproof, toughness, strength, resistant to gas, and it's ease of processing.
  Typical uses are Plastic grocery bags, milk, water, and juice container, bleach, detergent, hygienic product bottles, garbage bags, dishes, food tubs such as margarine, cereal box lining, medicine bottles, as well as in plastic/wood composites and plastic piping.
  Re-cycled to be used in the manufacturing of bottles, for non-food items, motor oil, shampoo, and laundry detergent. It is also re-used for the manufacture of plastic lumber and furniture.
  HDPE is considered to be relatively safe for re-use.
  China will accept this plastic.

3)  Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC): The second most used plastic in the world until recently use has decreased due to serious health and environmental pollution concerns during the manufacturing processes, it's entire cycle of use is toxic. Because of its low cost and versatility, it is still widely used and common. Properties are clarity, toughness, transparency, ease of shaping, and it's strength.
  PVC is used in the manufacture of toys, take-out containers, blister wrap, clear cling wrap (for food preservation), made into bottles containing food, cooking oil, shower curtains, medical tubing and blood bags.
  PVC is considered the most toxic and hazardous plastics it remains to be commonly used to make a number of consumer products. PVC contains the following toxic chemicals, this is not a complete list, bisphenol A (BPA), phthalates, lead, dioxins (think agent orange), mercury and cadmium.
  It has an extremely low re-cycle rate due to the toxicity confronted during re-claiming and re-processing. A recommendation not to recycle due to its contaminates, avoid at all costs.
  China will no longer accept this stream of plastic waste.

4)  Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) Is the most widely used plastic in the world it shares the simplest most basic chemical makeup of any plastic polymer making it cost effective for use as packing materials. Ease of processing, strength, toughness, flexibility, water resistance, and ease of sealing.
  Products include grocery, dry cleaning, bread, frozen food, garbage and newspaper bags. Used in plastic wrap, paper milk cartons, and hot and cold drink cups.
  It is a stable low toxicity product, making it a safer alternative for use as food containers, and drinking cups.
  Re-cycled it is used in composite materials, paneling and plastic lumber.
  It is rated relatively safe to use.
  China accepts this plastic waste stream. 

5)  Polypropylene (PP) Used for many of the same applications and uses as polyethylenes most notably when heat resistance and stiffness are the desired trait. It also has a very basic chemical makeup as its relatives LDPE and PVC.
  Used in food containers, medicines, straws, Britta filters and Rubbermaid type of containers including baby bottles. Disposable diapers, thermal vests, appliance parts, car parts, and sanitary pad liners.
  Fairly stable and generally considered a safe plastic for food and drink containers, however, testing has revealed leaching of plastic additives (notably the stabilizing agent Oleamide), When heated it may be linked to occupational asthma based on workers in a PP factory.
  It re-cycled at a low rate because it is commonly pigmented or mixed with other resins making it hard to sort. Re-cycled it is used to manufacture brooms, brushes, bins, pallets, auto battery boxes and flower pots.
  It is considered relatively safe to recycle.
 China will no longer accept PP in its recycling programs.

6)  Polystyrene (PS), Styrofoam food containers should come immediately to mind, as well as packing peanuts, made of expanded PS (EPS). Versatility, Clarity, and ease of forming are it's desired traits.
  Outside of foam packing its other uses include egg cartons, disposable cups, bowls, and plates, bike helmets, licensed plate frames, test tubes, lab dishes (Petri dishes), model kits (cars, airplanes, ships)
  Very low re-cycle rates, due to its difficulty to re-cycle, the small amount that is reclaimed is manufactured into packing materials and thermal insulation.
  PS leaches styrene a brain and nervous system toxin and a carcinogenic PS is rated to avoid.
  China no longer accepts this waste stream.

7)  O: A general catch-all classification for all plastics other than the ones listed, some contain plastics that are layered or a mixture of assorted plastics, this classification includes the new bio-plastics. There are thousands of different plastics in this category, however, it is commonly associated with Polycarbonate (PC). Identified with the initials "PC" underneath the number "7", there is no other way to identify this recyclable material.
  Use has declined due to BPA in its makeup, commonly used in baby bottles and infant formula packaging, it was initially developed to be used as an alternative to die-cast metal. Transparency and strength make it desirable for use in products that are shatterproof. heat resistance, stiffness, strength, and optical clarity are its noted beneficial traits.
  Three and Five-gallon buckets, metal food storage can liners, oven baking bags, carbonless paper receipts, custom packaging, dental sealants, DVDs, snowboards, computers and power tools.
  BPA is its downfall, readily breaking down and leaching into the food products, it is a major concern when used in food storage capacities.
  The recycling rate is very small, due to BPA leaching, some municipal recycling programs will not accept 7/PC for reclaiming.
  The recommendation is to avoid PC, a known Endocrine disruptor with many negative health effects including the risk of cancers.
  China will no longer accept O grade plastics 

It's a confusing grading due to the number of different kinds of plastic waste. 

  That is a lot of plastic, just weeks after the ban countries that were dependent on China are now groaning under the weight of an expanding supply of waste materials. It is a mixed bag, Municipalities are in a near panic not knowing what to do with the waste and it is building up. On the other hand, it could very well be not only a "wake up" call but an incentive for the dependent countries to generate a solution for the situation nearing crisis proportions. Germany, Canada, Ireland, United Kingdom, United States, the state of Oregon, and Calgary Canada are all impacted by Chinas decision.
  China has it's reasons for no longer being the recycling center of the world, in the 1980s until recently labor was cheap allowing scrap such as large electric motors to be taken apart and completely sorted out. The cost of labor has increased, China's demand for raw materials has decreased, and the country was suffering many environmental, as well as public health concerns, the concerns began to mount. Countries sent everything to China for recycling, some of it could not be recycled as per the list above, due to being contaminated, or just plain unusable. The imported trash has piled up fulling China's landfills and polluting its waterways, some of the material was hazardous and toxic. In 1996 recyclers accidentally imported more than 100 tons of radioactive metal from Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, it had to be reckoned with. The massive amount of imported waste created towns where the population was employed in the recycling industry. Adults and Children were working in dangerous, and toxic working environments. Public anger in China was instrumental in the country changing its course on accepting waste products. Nationalism is growing at a rapid rate, people began asking why they were processing waste from the United States, "Why don't we first deal with what we are creating in our own towns and cities instead of taking the American imperialists trash?" was a widely shared sentiment.

Cities were founded next to the recycling facilities to house the employees,
everyone in town was employed there, adults, children,
and the elderly. 

  What a mess isn't it? This blog could become a 1,000-page document on dealing with plastic waste, there doesn't seem to be a solution in sight, yet. It is surely inspiring the exporting countries to re-think their waste streams and what to do with it. It is my opinion, the manufacturers should be taking the responsibility, the manufacturers of water bottles, fast food containers, and plastic bags need to be brought to task. Perhaps it should be the responsibility of them to set up facilities, run them and take care of the waste, a deposit on containers would be a logical source of funding, plus the profits to be taken from the recycled material sales. I will explore this further in my next blog.
  Thank you for reading and sharing my blog, please share and comment, it is a very serious situation, one that includes the entire world's population, it will take the entire world to come up solutions. Should we go back to bio-degradable products? That could be part of the answer, we are capable of handling this worldwide, but it will take every single one of us on Planet Earth, we must "End Plastic Pollution". Thanks again for reading and sharing.
jacquesandkate  EmergencyKitsPlus.com