The world’s biggest contributor has not signed on. By
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Many richer nations deal with difficult-to-recycle or contaminated plastic by exporting it to poorer countries.
An amendment to the Basel Convention restricts this practice, forcing bigger countries to deal with their plastic waste production.
The United States did not ratify the amendment, but will no longer be able to export to Basel countries.
When China banned plastic waste imports in 2018 it exposed just how much waste the world s wealthiest countries were dumping on poorer countries. Now, those countries are sending it back and the world’s oceans may be better for it.