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The China Syndrome

Episode 3 of 3

China's ban on importing other countries' waste plastic is having a big impact – it’s now taking a tenth of material it accepted a year ago, so what’s next? Roland Pease reports

Plastic waste and pollution have become a global problem but is there any sign of a global solution? And how did we allow this to happen in the first place?

Materials scientist and broadcaster, Professor Mark Miodownik, explores how we fell in love with plastic, why we've ended up with oceans of waste blighting the environment and what science and society can do about it.

Programme Three:
Roland Pease hears from Kenya where one of the most stringent bans on plastic bags has been in force for nearly two years, from the US where the reuseable cup has taken off and from Sweden where reverse vending machines give you money back when you return your plastic bottles. And he looks at places where plastic is the best material for the job.

Picture: Bike loaded with empty plastic bottles. Shanghai China, Credit: typhoonski/Getty Images

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27 minutes

Last on

Mon 17 Dec 2018 00:32GMT

Broadcasts

  • Mon 10 Dec 2018 20:32GMT
  • Mon 10 Dec 2018 21:32GMT
  • Tue 11 Dec 2018 05:32GMT
  • Tue 11 Dec 2018 06:32GMT
  • Tue 11 Dec 2018 07:32GMT
  • Tue 11 Dec 2018 11:32GMT
  • Tue 11 Dec 2018 14:32GMT
  • Tue 11 Dec 2018 18:32GMT
  • Mon 17 Dec 2018 00:32GMT

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