Frances Cairncross - Burying the Evidence
Frances Cairncross reviews "Waste Wars: Dirty Deals, International Rivalries and the Scandalous Afterlife of Rubbish" by Alexander Clapp.
After reading Waste Wars, one's perception of throwing away a plastic bag or an old mobile phone will change. The question remains, where do these items end up? Alexander Clapp provides alarming answers.
His book describes the routes that waste takes, mainly from rich countries to poor ones. The more difficult an item is to recycle, the greater the likelihood it will end up in sub-Saharan Africa.
The more difficult an item is to – genuinely – recycle, the greater the likelihood is that it will end up somewhere in sub-Saharan Africa.
As rich countries became more sensitive to environmental damage, they encouraged recycling. However, some rubbish can easily be returned to the earth, such as unwanted cabbage leaves.
Author's summary: Waste Wars reveals the dark truth about waste disposal.