It is the blind spot of our societies of abundance. In tens of millions of tonnes, industrial and household waste leaves Europe every year for other countries located on the other side of the planet. Metals, plastics and papers reach countries in full containers that pay little attention to reprocessing standards. Globalization in its wildest results in this insane situation which sees the richest importing consumer goods at low cost and then getting rid of rubbish at a low price, sending them back to poorer regions. Thus unfolds the “Waste culture” relentlessly denounced by Pope Francis since Laudato si’, in which the ecological scandal is coupled with economic nonsense.
The situation seems about to change. Three years ago, China set the tone by drastically limiting this type of import. Others followed, like Senegal, where revolt is brewing against what anti-pollution activists call “colonization of waste”. It is therefore largely because it is forced to do so that the European Union is reacting these days. Very late, the Commission is proposing legislation which will not enter into force at best for five years. If the text is not toned down, it will be real progress. With a few exceptions, waste can no longer be sent outside of OECD countries.
That we are concerned about putting an end to this absurd noria – which has nothing to do with the circular economy – is a good thing. But that’s only part of the problem, when you consider that the amount of waste produced in Europe has almost doubled in twenty years. Reversing this curve is a priority. And that is good: it depends as much on our public policies as on our particular behavior.
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