In recent years the global recycling and waste programs have been globally exposed as transportation systems. Countries have been effectively shipping their waste to foreign governments to avoid needing to find space in landfills domestically. Although we do have recycling programs here, and try to recover as much usable raw materials as possible, we are highly inefficient at sorting recyclables and ensuring materials end up in the right place, and in appropriate condition for the materials to be broken down and reused.

The cost of processing waste and recyclables in the western world is traditionally very expensive because of our high cost of labour. Many countries have opted for shipping their waste to countries with relaxed regulations, with a lower wage base, even if detrimental to the environment.

As of 2020, China has a population of over 1.4 billion people with a density of 148 people per square kilometer. Comparatively the United States has a density of 36 people per square kilometer; about a quarter of the density of China. Since 2013 China has been outspoken on their need to improve the waste and recycling system as the waste generated by their significant population, and imported to them, has led to economic and ecological challenges. As a result, China has since significantly improved their waste and recycling standards, creating a functional yet rapidly evolving program.

Recyclables are a raw and usable material with value. The farming, paper, metal and plastic industries all find usable quality resources within this stream. Garbage on the other hand is not usable, and needs to be disposed of in landfills or incinerated; both of which have environmental and ecological impacts.

Up to the end of 2017 China was accepting approximately 4,000 shipping containers full of waste and recyclables per day from western countries, led by the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada. These shipments were anywhere from usable quality recyclable goods to spoiled unusable waste. On January 1, 2018 China implemented a new program named National Sword, which effectively disallowed the import of any waste not deemed to the standards of recyclable clean goods. Western countries were then forced to find new international landfills to ship to, or face the growing problem themselves.

Western countries began to increase their waste shipments to other countries including Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, Srilanka, and others; these governments quickly noticed the significant increase in waste shipments. In April of 2019 the Philippines threatened to declare war on Canada within one week if Canada didn’t reclaim their waste that had been building up in Phillipino ports (Source: Global News/ The Canadian Press). Canada in turn was heavily criticized for shipping it’s waste internationally, hoping to sidestep their problem by passing it to countries with more economic challenges and waste systems unable to properly handle the materials.

The Chinese National Sword program set an extremely high standard for recyclable imports at no more than 0.5% contamination of goods to be acceptable. The previous limits of contamination were 5% to 10% depending on the goods. The program established a 3 page long detailed list of banned items, and clarified the standards for which must be met for import eligibility. This meant that countries trying to export these goods now needed to adjust to a much more stringent standard of sorting.

The government of China has been using Shanghai as a test bed for their recycling program for years, with over 24 million inhabitants. China recognizes that as the country grows in population, this city, and super cities of the future will add strain on the environment and availability of resources to service the population. China is already strained for resources having already harvested the vast majority of their native forests over thousands of years of heritage.

China’s resolution to the problem was to buy sorted recyclable goods to the standard required from their people. This provided an economic benefit to those who ensured their waste was properly sorted. In turn this developed an industry of sorters and collectors for returning goods to pick-up depots. China ran a significant education and advertising program, and started charging significant fees for the purchase and disposal of garbage bags. Converted to USD, a 35 gallon black garbage bag would cost approximately $80 per bag to dispose of, thereby incentivizing citizens to closely monitor their waste production.

China recognizes the value of these raw goods. From curbside pick-up it is estimated that a box is broken down and remade into a new box within 48 hours, and put back into the supply ready for use.

The sorters and collectors have become well recognized staples within the community. These workers are generally aged 40+ with education ranging from grade 6 to 9. Taking a job like this meant making more than they could make on a farm, while avoiding the strains of working within factories. The workers developed customer bases and business relationships providing kickbacks to their material providers. The community as a whole learned to properly sort the materials, and understood the need for their dedication to these actions. These workers make decent wages, with households with two family members working in the industry reporting being able to support their family, and having the ability to send their kids to University.

Hong Kong in the Special Administrative Region of China has also felt the effects of Mainland China’s import laws. Hong Kong has a population of 7.4 million people within a 1,014 square kilometer space, an astounding 7,300 people per square kilometer; one of the most densely populated places in the world. In Hong Kong some of the oldest and least educated are also finding economic stability within this newly developing system. These people are commonly referred to as ‘Cardboard Grannies’. These workers make as much as $330 USD per month collecting and sorting recyclables and delivering to pick-up depots. The workers are paid by weight, as the materials are collected and sold to China. They also are regularly offered other items that people and shop owners are disposing of, often finding furniture or other materials which can be refurbished for resale, or used in their homes.

What can other countries learn from China?