We know colonialism. We know economic colonialism. However, there is another form called ‘Waste Colonialism’. A wealthy country produces mountains of waste, and  instead of dealing with all of it at home, some of it is shipped to poorer countries as recyclable plastic, waste paper or used electronics. The sender cleans its backyard while someone else inherits the mess.

Garbage has economics. Shipping waste thousands of kilometres has a reason as disposal and recycling can be expensive in countries with strict environmental regulations and high labour costs; and exporting it can be cheaper.

And the word “recycling” makes the transaction sound respectable. But not everything is recyclable. The UN body leading global efforts to tackle environmental problems known as UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme), notes that in some emerging economies, an estimated 5–20% of imported plastic waste may have no market value, eventually ending up in landfills, open dumps or being burned.

Consider e-waste. Old computers, televisions and phones do not simply........

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