When more than 180
nations agreed last year to place strict limits on exports of plastic waste
from richer countries to poorer ones, the move was seen as a major victory in
the fight against plastic pollution.
But new trade data for
January, the first month that the agreement took effect, shows that U.S. exports
of plastic scrap to poorer countries have barely changed, and overall scrap
plastics exports rose, which environmental watchdog groups say is evidence that
exporters are ignoring the new rules.