1. Plastic Bottles

2. How is China much like pre-20th century U. S
How is China much like pre-20th century U.S. with what happens to consumer waste?
China, pre-20th c. U.S.
Waste collected down the line
Collect/sell scrap
Reuse
1960s U.S. waste concerns
Landfills
Pollutions
Resource use

3. What are ‘one-ways’ and why does much of that plastic now end up going to China? (WA 1)
History of two-ways and one-ways
PET soda bottles
Convenient, portable, disposable
WWII influence
US interstate system
Central distributor
Cheap plastic for industry

4. Why does much of that plastic now end up going to China? (WA 1 cont.)
Cheap shipping
Empty pods to China (esp. from W. Coast)
Plastic-based exports
China reuses plastic waste; U.S. some reuse
Other plastics- reuse waste ↓ fuel use
Cheaper labor
Not feasible in U.S.

5. Why doesn’t the plastics industry fight or back the Bottle Bill? (WA 2)
Only support when under pressure
Objective: Make, sell virgin plastics
Top players: U.S. oil, chemical companies
Stable oil prices = no incentive for recycling
Want in good w/ bottlers
Fragmented group
V. aluminum, steel, paper
Shift burden to producers from consumers
Germany ex.

6. Why and how are people more sustainably using plastic waste in the GS
Why and how are people more sustainably using plastic waste in the GS? (WA 3)
Collection challenges
Export less feasible
Fewer imports
Shipping less efficient= ↑ costs
Reuse, repurpose when possible
↓ expensive

7. Recap Development= ↑ waste
Cater to convenience
Infrastructure in place in GN for waste collection, processing
GS lacks waste collection infrastructure
China has demand for recycled materials
Reuse of waste based on economic incentives
For GN, need to shift burden to producers