US defies treaty to classify plastic as hazardous waste

America has long dumped its dirty “recyclable” plastic on other countries. Little of it actually gets recycled. Much of this plastic gets dumped in streams or torched, poisoning foreign soil. That was all poised to change through an international treaty that classifies used plastic as hazardous waste. Almost every country in the world signed on. But as The World’s Patrick Winn reports, the US is defying this global treaty.

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