Nearly all countries agree to stem flow of plastic waste into poor nations

US reportedly opposed deal, which follows concerns that villages in Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia had 'turned into dumpsites'

Almost all the world's countries have agreed on a deal aimed at restricting shipments of hard-to-recycle plastic waste to poorer countries, the United Nations announced on Friday.

Exporting countries - including the US - now will have to obtain consent from countries receiving contaminated, mixed or unrecyclable plastic waste. Currently, the US and other countries can send lower-quality plastic waste to private entities in developing countries without getting approval from their governments.