>Recycling is more prevalent in "third world" countries due to a relatively cheap supply of human labor

I think that captures part of it, but the other part is that used/refurbished/repurposed/upcycled, etc. are affordable to poorer people whereas a new item is not.

Consider the repurposed pick-up chassis which becomes an oxcart in some third world country. Or a paint bucket which becomes a tin to store things, etc.

However, point taken about the poor in China. Those people will work --they will work anywhich job without hesitation. People don't always recall that there isn't much social welfare other than family in China.