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Portion of plastic discarded in the U.S. last year and then sent to China, the largest global importer of most recyclable materials. That won't be the case anymore, though, because the country recently banned "foreign waste."

Portion of plastic discarded in the U.S. last year and then sent to China, the largest global importer of most recyclable materials. That won't be the case anymore, though, because the country recently banned "foreign waste."

Caroline Cournoyer is GOVERNING's senior web editor.