Prior to a 2018 ban of waste imports from Hong Kong to China, Hong Kong dealt with their recyclables by doing just that. Since then, the city of Hong Kong has been struggling to deal with the problem, with the government mostly stumped for solutions. Their best answer so far being to encourage a reduction of polystyrene at source…

Polystyrene can take more than 500 years to decompose.

These images were taken in Cheung Sha Wan (Hong Kong) wholesale food market, a major port for food import, where polystyrene boxes are mostly used. They’re piling high, patiently hoping to complete an eco-friendly journey.

In the UK, we do not recycle polystyrene.