How Much Is Your Rubbish Worth?
Ruth Alexander finds out who makes money out of what we throw away. On the trail of our recycling, she discovers a multi-billion dollar industry that is global, and in turmoil.
When you throw away rubbish, it can create an environmental problem - or a business opportunity.
Your old newspapers, tin cans and plastic bottles are someone else's valuable harvest. Just like gold, steel, sugar or coffee, rubbish is traded all over the world as a commodity. If it can be recycled, it's worth money.
Until recently, countries vied to recycle the waste of others. But now one of the main players - China - says it doesn't want foreign rubbish anymore. That has sent this multi-billion dollar industry into turmoil and is forcing it to invent new solutions. Ruth Alexander reports.
Producer: Tony Bonsignore.
Last on
More episodes
Broadcasts
- Thu 24 May 2018 20:3091热爆 Radio 4
- Sun 27 May 2018 21:3091热爆 Radio 4
Download this programme
Subscribe to this programme or download individual episodes.