Countries Tried to Curb Trade in Plastic Waste. The U.S. Is Shipping More.When more than 180 nations

Countries Tried to Curb Trade in Plastic Waste. The U.S. Is Shipping More.

When more than 180 nations agreed last year to place strict limits on exports of plastic waste from richer countries to poorer ones, the move was seen as a major victory in the fight against plastic pollution.

But new trade data for January, the first month that the agreement took effect, shows that American exports of plastic scrap to poorer countries have barely changed, and overall scrap plastics exports rose, which environmental watchdog groups say is evidence that exporters are ignoring the new rules.