China is no longer a major purchaser of recyclables from California due to its "National Sword" policy, which was implemented in 2018 and banned most imported waste, including paper, plastics, and textiles. The country now requires much higher purity standards and has significantly reduced or stopped imports, forcing California to find new markets for its recyclables.
Previous situation: Before the policy change, China was California's largest customer for recyclables, receiving a majority of the state's exports.
Policy change: In 2018, China banned the import of most plastics and other waste, imposing a contamination limit of 0.5% on acceptable materials, a standard that was nearly impossible for many exporters to meet.
Impact on California: The policy led to a sharp decline in exports to China, with a significant drop in imports of mixed paper and plastics.
Current market: As a result, many recyclables that were once shipped to China now have nowhere to go, causing a recycling crisis in California and other parts of the U.S..