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The world-wide waste web

Author

Listed:
  • Johann H. Martínez

    (Instituto de Física Interdisciplinar y Sistemas Complejos IFISC (CSIC-UIB)
    Universidad de los Andes)

  • Sergi Romero

    (Instituto de Física Interdisciplinar y Sistemas Complejos IFISC (CSIC-UIB))

  • José J. Ramasco

    (Instituto de Física Interdisciplinar y Sistemas Complejos IFISC (CSIC-UIB))

  • Ernesto Estrada

    (Instituto de Física Interdisciplinar y Sistemas Complejos IFISC (CSIC-UIB)
    University of Zaragoza
    ARAID Foundation, Government of Aragon)

Abstract

Countries globally trade with tons of waste materials every year, some of which are highly hazardous. This trade admits a network representation of the world-wide waste web, with countries as vertices and flows as directed weighted edges. Here we investigate the main properties of this network by tracking 108 categories of wastes interchanged in the period 2001–2019. Although, most of the hazardous waste was traded between developed nations, a disproportionate asymmetry existed in the flow from developed to developing countries. Using a dynamical model, we simulate how waste stress propagates through the network and affects the countries. We identify 28 countries with low Environmental Performance Index that are at high risk of waste congestion. Therefore, they are at threat of improper handling and disposal of hazardous waste. We find evidence of pollution by heavy metals, by volatile organic compounds and/or by persistent organic pollutants, which are used as chemical fingerprints, due to the improper handling of waste in several of these countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Johann H. Martínez & Sergi Romero & José J. Ramasco & Ernesto Estrada, 2022. "The world-wide waste web," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-13, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-022-28810-x
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-28810-x
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Derek Kellenberg, 2015. "The Economics of the International Trade of Waste," Annual Review of Resource Economics, Annual Reviews, vol. 7(1), pages 109-125, October.
    2. Shiming Yang, 2020. "Trade for the Environment: Transboundary Hazardous Waste Movements After the Basel Convention," Review of Policy Research, Policy Studies Organization, vol. 37(5), pages 713-738, September.
    3. Garvin A. Heath & Timothy J. Silverman & Michael Kempe & Michael Deceglie & Dwarakanath Ravikumar & Timothy Remo & Hao Cui & Parikhit Sinha & Cara Libby & Stephanie Shaw & Keiichi Komoto & Karsten Wam, 2020. "Research and development priorities for silicon photovoltaic module recycling to support a circular economy," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 5(7), pages 502-510, July.
    4. Sangeeta Sonak & Mahesh Sonak & Asha Giriyan, 2008. "Shipping hazardous waste: implications for economically developing countries," International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 8(2), pages 143-159, June.
    5. Adomas Balkevicius & Mark Sanctuary & Sigita Zvirblyte, 2020. "Fending off waste from the west: The impact of China's Operation Green Fence on the international waste trade," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 43(10), pages 2742-2761, October.
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