The article from The New York Times explores the alarming global waste trade, which has evolved significantly since the late 1980s, when developed countries began exporting their trash to developing nations under the guise of recycling. Although the Basel Convention was established in 1992 to curb the illegal movement of toxic waste, poorer countries continue to be dumping grounds for Western refuse, now often framed as "recyclable" materials. The author highlights the hazardous conditions in places like Ghana, Indonesia, and Kenya, where local communities suffer severe health impacts from toxic waste processing. This under-regulated trade, particularly in plastics, poses catastrophic environmental and public health risks, leading to a scenario where waste management has become a trillion-dollar industry, and the true costs of our consumer habits remain largely invisible to those in the West.

Key Points:

• The global waste trade began in the late 1980s with the export of industrial waste.
• Developing nations are often paid to accept waste, leading to "garbage imperialism."
• The Basel Convention was created to prevent toxic waste export, but compliance is lacking.
• Waste is often misrepresented as recyclable, obscuring the true environmental damage.
• Communities in countries like Ghana, Indonesia, and Kenya face severe health risks from handling hazardous materials.
• The plastics waste trade is particularly dire, significantly affecting local ecosystems and health.
• Despite legislative efforts, the global waste trade flourishes due to lack of regulation and high profits.
• Consumers in wealthy countries remain largely unaware of the consequences of their disposal practices.
  Link to Article