Two-thirds of this planet’s recycling products, including nearly 70 percent of this country’s recycling, is sold to Chinese processors and has been sold to them for the better part of the last two decades. In fact, according to CNN Money, scrap and waste is the sixth-largest U.S. export to China. But that could be coming to an end because apparently Americans aren’t recycling correctly.

This summer, China announced that due to quality issues — for example, finding soiled disposable diapers and moldy food containers in materials that are supposed to be clean recyclables — it will ban the importing of 24 types of solid waste. The ban includes plastic and mixed-paper that is commonly sent from the states. While the news has made some national headlines, the effects of the ban will no doubt be felt locally. With nowhere for the recyclable material to go, some cities and counties in Oregon have already allowed waste processors to begin throwing recyclables into landfills, essentially defeating the purpose of recycling. The measure is supposed to be temporary, that is until other markets for our recyclables are found, but trying to find a market for the tens of millions of tons of recyclable material is no small task. There is no other country in the world that can compete with the manufacturing powerhouse that is China.

It is time for America to start the journey toward increased self-sufficiency. It was irresponsible and short-sighted for this country to continue selling off its waste knowing that there could be a ban coming — multiple news sources reported on a potential ban years ago, but no new plastic recycling plants have been built since 2003. It’s just as irresponsible to continue the mass manufacturing of single-use plastics — water bottles, plastic bags, packaging — and to forgo proper recycling practices. Step one: We all need to cut down on the amount of plastic products we buy. Step two: We need to read the signs at the transfer station and online that list what can and cannot be recycled and follow the directions for the cleaning of said products.

As the president of Pioneer Recycling Service said earlier this week: “We cannot turn garbage into recyclable material.”

On Vashon, an entire organization has dedicated itself to cutting down on waste, and it is holding a forum on Saturday. Zero Waste Vashon’s community forum could not be more relevant. As conscious inhabitants of this planet, we should always be concerned about the impact we have on the world around us, but convenience and the “out of sight, out of mind” nature of waste management make it difficult to see first-hand. Islanders need to make a concerted effort to see and change their ways. The resources and interest are here; now is the time for action.