China's July 18, 2017 WTO filing that banned dozens of scrap categories has upended recycling economics around the world, especially in the U.S. The subsequent tightening of contamination standards for what the country still will accept has added further pressure to the industry.

Over the past year, Waste Dive has covered this from many angles with dozens of stories throughout the scrap supply chain. From local governments big and small to state and federal agencies to the industry's largest recycling companies and the many parties in between, we're constantly seeking new perspectives. We also continue to update our 50 state market effects tracker on a weekly basis.

As we begin to think more broadly about what the future of recycling will look like, it's also important to remember how we got here. In the months ahead, we'll continue to update this page with our top stories on the China shift, valuable coverage from others and links to external industry resources. If you have information that would be a good fit for this — or our state tracker page — we welcome emails at waste.dive.editors@industrydive.com

Click here to jump to most recent stories

• July 2017

  What comes next after China's scrap ban surprise?

  Early reactions from industry associations about where material would go next and what it might take to expand U.S. processing infrastructure.

• September 2017

  Insights on the unknown effects of China's scrap import ban

  A podcast dispatch from the 2017 Resource Recycling conference in Minneapolis with multiple MRF operators and industry figures about how they were adapting so far.

• October 2017

  Surprise OCC price drop seen as latest sign China is serious about new trade policy

  Trade analysts and industry figures react to troubling signs for the one commodity many recyclers were still counting on.

  Recycling Partnership's Harrison on China, single-stream and the future of recycling education

  CEO Keefe Harrison emphasizes an optimistic outlook and discusses next steps for recycling policy.

• November 2017

  Market effects vary by state, but widespread agreement is recycling needs to change

  In honor of America Recycles Day, Waste Dive launches the 50 state page with a companion feature highlighting market conditions around the country.

  China proposes new 0.5% contamination standard with March 2018 enforcement

  Waste Dive is among the first to report on China's finalization of tight new contamination specifications.

• December 2017

  Disruptor of the Year: China's Import Policies

  China's outsized effects on the U.S. industry are recognized with a 2017 Dive Award.

• March 2018

  SWANApalooza: How the industry is (and isn't) adapting, post-China

  A report from the Denver conference about how officials from the EPA and local governments viewed the policy effects to date.

  Waste Management's Bell on the tough job of MRF sorters and life after China

  An in-depth interview with the head of America's biggest recycling operation on the market's shifting economic and labor realities.

• April 2018

  With China's 'nearly impossible' contamination standard, where are MRFs looking now?

  Early reactions one month into the enforcement of China's 0.5% contamination standard.

  ISRI: No 'panacea' on import restrictions — what China wants is more complicated

  The leading scrap association offers more historical and economic context about what led China to this point.

  China announces formal ban on 32 scrap categories

  The list grows longer as China makes good on a promise to eventually move away from all scrap imports by 2020.

  Catching up with 'king' of the industry Jim Fish

  A Waste Expo interview with the Waste Management CEO, including how his latest earnings call got dominated by recycling questions.

• May 2018

  Republic VP Pete Keller on transforming the recycling business model

  A Waste Expo interview with the head of America's second-largest recycling operation on changing the economic equation.

• May-June 2018

  Vietnam to temporarily stop accepting scrap plastic imports

  Indonesia implements 100% pre-shipment inspection policy on fiber

  Thailand temporarily stops plastic, e-scrap imports

  Three key Southeast Asian export markets take steps to either pause, or limit, the amount of scrap they're receiving after China limits its intake.

• July 2018

  5 charts that show the trade flow effects of China's import policies

  Closed Loop Partners CEO talks infrastructure investments in light of National Sword

  The future of recycling for people, packagers, policymakers

  Waste Dive marks the anniversary of China's WTO announcement with multiple stories about what it has meant for commodity supply chains, infrastructure investment and the broader national recycling dialogue.

• July 2018

  Vietnam, Malaysia crack down on scrap imports

  The Southeast Asian countries report a backlog of scrap and pollution concerns following China's import bans and enact new restrictions.

• August 2018

  Could new tariffs be the final blow for US-China scrap trade?

  Retaliatory 25% tariffs hit multiple scrap categories for the first time and lead many to speculate if this will create a de facto ban prior to 2020.

  4 recycling conversations to watch for remainder of 2018

  A round-up of highlights from WASTECON 2018 in Nashville, including the first-ever MRF Summit.

  Mittelstaedt: 'There's a reckoning coming' for recycling

• October 2018

  Thailand to permanently ban plastic imports by 2021

  China's new role in the global recycling economy

  A keynote session during the Paper & Plastics Recycling Conference examines what effects China's regulations are having and what comes next for new market developments.

• November 2018

  Malaysia to end plastic imports within three years