Indonesia's Air Quality Got Worse After China Banned Plastic Waste Imports, Research Shows

Indonesia's air quality got worse after China banned plastic waste imports, research shows

When China banned plastic waste imports in 2018, countries like the United States, the Netherlands, Australia, and Japan didn't stop exporting plastic waste—they diverted their shipments to countries in Southeast Asia.

China’s plastic ban linked to worse air quality in Indonesia

Air pollution increased near waste dump sites in Indonesia after China stopped importing most plastic waste in 2018, according to a new study that highlights the global environmental consequences of shifting waste trade. The research found that China’s ban on plastic waste imports was followed by an increase in levels…