Why do western countries try to reduce plastic waste? Because they want to take their responsibility in reducing the amount of plastic that ends up in the oceans. Of course other countries should do that too, with help if necessary, but only pointing at other people isn't going to fix this; you need to do your own part too.
I think the parent post's argument was that instead of stopping the usage of plastic straws locally, take the effort spent on that and spend it on helping China, etc. manage their plastics disposal.
I believe it would be more economically expensive to help another nation recycle than to pass a law domestically and ban/fine for certain disposable goods, but as far as work-effort expended, I think you'd get more bang for your buck to work with those that produce the most plastic. Of course, international processes are always harder than domestic ones, and this isn't an exclusive-or style problem.
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Why do western countries try to reduce plastic waste? Because they want to take their responsibility in reducing the amount of plastic that ends up in the oceans. Of course other countries should do that too, with help if necessary, but only pointing at other people isn't going to fix this; you need to do your own part too.
I think the parent post's argument was that instead of stopping the usage of plastic straws locally, take the effort spent on that and spend it on helping China, etc. manage their plastics disposal.
I believe it would be more economically expensive to help another nation recycle than to pass a law domestically and ban/fine for certain disposable goods, but as far as work-effort expended, I think you'd get more bang for your buck to work with those that produce the most plastic. Of course, international processes are always harder than domestic ones, and this isn't an exclusive-or style problem.
I think we can do both. There's no reason to consider these things mutually exclusive.