Jaerim Choi, Yonsei University

"Air Pollution and Health Burdens across Borders: Evidence from South Korea after China’s Plastic Waste Import Ban"

Abstract

This paper examines how China’s 2018 plastic waste import ban shifted environmental and health burdens to South Korea by reshaping global plastic waste trade. Following the ban, South Korea experienced a sharp but geographically uneven surge in plastic waste imports. Using this regional variation, we combine detailed data on trade, air pollution, healthcare utilization, and recycling facilities from 2015 to 2019. We find that regions more exposed to the import shock experienced higher concentrations of PM2.5, consistent with intensified recycling activity, and more emergency-room visits for pollution-sensitive diseases, particularly rhinitis. Our findings highlight a significant transboundary externality of the global plastic waste trade.

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