The United States, Europe, Australia and other parts of the world have increasingly relied on China as an export destination for mixed paper (junk mail, newsprint, office paper, etc.) and mixed plastic. Due to concerns about contamination of the material they have been receiving, and to shut down older polluting mills, China has instituted policies (Blue Sky and National Sword) that have effectively closed the doors on most imported mixed recyclables. Global changes are affecting our local programs, and quite abruptly.