The recent ban by China on importing much plastics waste from the UK and other locations means that some countries have to reconsider how they do their 'recycling' (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/dec/07/chinese-ban-on-plastic-waste-imports-could-see-uk-pollution-rise). Essentially, what China has been prepared to pay for UK plastics waste has subsidised the costs of council recycling efforts (but not, perhaps, covering the costs of house-holder's time and hot water washing of items?). The material has often been recycled back to us from China in a variety of products. Perhaps, the policy change (linked to a need to improve environmental conditions in China) will lead to changes in the UK including a) reducing the amount of plastics in packaging; b) incinerating some of the waste (with carbon capture?) to generate electricity and c) recycling some of the material ourselves?
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