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European industry in collapse: The hidden truth about the waste that exploded in 2018 and still devastates the world

Written by Carla Teles de Lima
Published 13/01/2025 às 21:52
European industry in collapse: The hidden truth about the waste that exploded in 2018 and still devastates the world
The world is full of garbage and the industry does not know how to deal with it. More and more waste accumulates, damaging the environment and our health.

In 2018, the European waste industry collapsed when China banned its imports of waste, exposing a fragile and unsustainable system. More than 200 million tons of waste were diverted to vulnerable countries, worsening the global environmental crisis. The promise of recycling has failed: only 12% of the world’s waste is recycled, while the rest chokes landfills or fills the oceans.

Have you ever stopped to think about where all the waste we produce ends up? Every year, around 2 billion tons of waste are generated worldwide. The waste industry, especially in Europe, made us believe that everything was under control. But in 2018, that illusion was shattered.

The Waste Industry and the Hidden Collapse

Until 2018, China was the main destination for European waste. Approximately 95% of Europe’s plastics were sent there. When the country decided to close its doors to foreign waste, the European waste management system collapsed. It became clear that the industry was not sustainable; it was just a transfer of responsibility.

Without China to absorb its waste, Europe had to find alternatives quickly. Millions of tons of waste were redirected to countries in Southeast Asia and the Gulf of Guinea. This change did not solve the problem; it simply shifted the environmental impact to less prepared regions.

The Opacity of Industry: A Web of Silence

Waste is piling up more and more and industry is failing to solve the problem. This is worsening the environmental crisis and harming the planet.
Waste is piling up more and more and industry is failing to solve the problem. This is worsening the environmental crisis and harming the planet.

Why has no one talked about this vulnerability before? The answer is simple: the waste industry has always operated in an opaque manner, with the connivance of governments and management companies. Solving the problem locally was expensive and complex. So they chose to keep the problem hidden under the carpet.

Recycling has always been sold as the magic solution. However, only 12% of global waste is actually recycled. The rest is buried or exported. Industry has preferred to invest in “green” marketing rather than effective solutions.

The search for new destinations: Trash in transit

With the closure of Chinese ports, the industry rushed to countries in Southeast Asia and Africa. These places, often lacking adequate infrastructure, became global garbage dumps. The problem has simply changed addresses.

Why doesn’t the industry seek local solutions? Because it’s expensive. Implementing efficient recycling systems requires high investments. Thus, exporting remains the most financially viable option, although environmentally disastrous.

The Future of Waste: Towards Sustainability or Collapse?

Managing waste locally is difficult, but not impossible. Countries need to invest in advanced recycling technologies and environmental education. Industry must be held accountable and encouraged to seek sustainable alternatives.

Innovations How chemical recycling and the circular economy can transform waste management. But is the industry willing to change? Without pressure from society and effective public policies, transformation will be slow.

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Francisco
Francisco
14/01/2025 18:29

Existing recycling is a process designed to separate and return different types of plastic to their usable condition using existing technology (injectors), which does not work with mixed plastics. I have a solution to use all plastic waste with a single technology.

Carla Teles de Lima

I talk about technology, innovation and the oil and gas sector, bringing up-to-date and relevant content about the Brazilian market. Every day, I share information about job opportunities and the main news in the sector. Do you have a suggestion for a topic? Just send it to my email: carlatdl016@gmail.com.

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