Sizing Up China: Japan’s Trash Helps Fire China’s Industry, But at What Price? – Hiroshi Matsubara

As part of a series on the growing influence of China in Japan, Asahi Shimbun reports on the export of trash to China:

China’s red-hot economy is jacking up demand for steel, plastics, paper and many other industrial materials, creating a booming industry for scrap exporters like Katsura.

In 2006, Japan exported about 1.19 million tons of waste plastics to China, including Hong Kong, 4.4 times more than in 2000, according to Finance Ministry statistics. [Full text]