Skip Navigation

Where America Recyles

A look at some of China's major metal processing plants.

By Adam Minter

Go to next photo

In 2007, China imported in excess of 4 million metric tons of copper-bearing scrap metals, including the wire and cable being processed in this southern Chinese workshop in November 2007. The plastic insulation is stripped from the wire, and both products are then sold for re-melting.

Go to next photo

Presented by

More at The Atlantic

The Resurrection of Stephanie Cutter Stephanie Cutter's Comeback
Mario Batali on 'Sadistic' TV and Martha Stewart on Raising Chickens Mario Batali on 'Sadistic' TV and Martha Stewart on Raising Chickens
At Cannes, the American Comeback That Wasn't At Cannes, the American Comeback That Wasn't
No Gatorade: Celebrating New York City's Pick-up Basketball Scene Celebrating New York's Playground Basketball
After 50 Years of Silence, China Slowly Confronts the 'Great Leap Forward' After 50 Years of Silence, China Talks About Its Tragedies

Join the Discussion

After you comment, click Post. If you’re not already logged in you will be asked to log in or register.
blog comments powered by Disqus

The Biggest Story in Photos

Olympic Portraits, Part I: American Athletes

May 30, 2012
No Gatorade: Celebrating New York City's Pick-up Basketball Scene
Watch More Video

On Newsstands Now

Subscribe and SAVE 59%
10 issues JUST $2.45/COPY

The Atlantic Monthly

David H. Freedman on smartphone apps and the perfected self, Mark Bowden on being in the dumb kids' class, James Parker on Glenn Beck, Isaac Chotiner on P. G. Wodehouse, and more

Browse back issues of The Atlantic that have appeared on the Web. From September 1995 to the present, the archive is essentially complete, with the exception of a few articles, the online rights to which are held exclusively by the authors.

See All Back Issues: September 1995
To The Present »

Premium Archive

For a small fee you can now access more than a century of Atlantic Monthly articles in our online archive. The archive includes articles from 1857 to the present.

Prices » | Login for Saved Items » | Help »

Sort by:
Dates:
From: 
To: 
Author:  (optional)
Title:  (optional)

Facebook

Newsletters

Sign up to receive our free newsletters

(sample)

(sample)

(sample)

(sample)

(sample)

(sample)