We’ve blogged previously about the “Queen of Trash” before, that self-made Horatio Alger-like figure who became the richest woman in China by importing trash from the United States to make cardboard boxes.
This week, the New Yorker had an extensive profile of Cheung Yan (registration required) which was a fascinating read. She’s operating at the intersection of waste and new markets, but apparently is being seriously hampered by the downturn. While her product might fall under the “sustainability” umbrella, her labor practices do not.
Favorite line: The United States is the Saudi Arabia of trash.