The video discusses how recycling can actually be a hoax and sham due to the fact that waste collectors often sell recycling goods to brokers who then send them to poor countries overseas where they end up in landfills or in nature.
The lack of transparency around the recycling process makes it difficult to track where the plastic waste ends up, and most US cities would have difficulty figuring out how much of their recyclables are actually being recycled.
The illegal waste trade is also a problem as it is not easy to track every suspicious shipment, leading to disastrous consequences for the environment. Despite efforts to reduce plastic waste exports, the remaining plastic waste still ends up in landfills or in nature, leading to environmental problems.
Palo Alto, California, has made changes to increase domestic recycling rates and is working with other cities to expand recycling capacity and impose transparency requirements on companies that export recyclable goods.
Overall, the video highlights the need for more transparency and responsible waste management practices to address the issue of plastic waste.
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