Frances Cairncross - Burying the Evidence
Frances Cairncross reviews "Waste Wars: Dirty Deals, International Rivalries and the Scandalous Afterlife of Rubbish" by Alexander Clapp.
After reading Waste Wars, one's perception of disposing of a plastic bag or an old mobile phone will change. The question remains, where do these items end up? Alexander Clapp provides alarming answers.
His book is full of disturbing descriptions of the routes that waste has taken, mainly from the rich world to the poor.
The more difficult an item is to recycle, the greater the likelihood it will end up in sub-Saharan Africa. As rich countries became more sensitive to environmental damage, they encouraged recycling, but not all waste is easily recyclable.
Some rubbish, like unwanted cabbage leaves, can easily be returned to the earth, but other items pose a greater problem.
Author's summary: Waste Wars exposes the dark side of recycling.
- Book: Waste Wars: Dirty Deals, International Rivalries and the Scandalous Afterlife of Rubbish
- Author: Alexander Clapp
- Reviewer: Frances Cairncross