BEIJING, Jan. 18, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report by China.org.cn on China's waste import ban:
On Jan. 1, China's ban on importing 24 types of solid waste, including plastics, unsorted mixed paper, textile materials and vanadium slag, went into effect. The ban will leave a profound influence on China and waste-exporting countries.
China has been one of the world's largest waste importers for decades. With the rapid economic growth in the 1980s and 1990s, the country developed a strong demand for raw materials. It thus decided to import foreign waste, hoping to extract useful resources from it to meet the demand. However, it caused another problem. Waste was sorted out by hand inefficiently. Things considered useless were simply burnt without any treatment, causing severe damage to the environment. And the smuggling of waste also became a headache for the government.
Without a good environment, seeking growth is simply out of the question. In recent years, China attempted to solve some of the problems created by its relaxed regulations and supervision. In 2013, Chinese Customs launched a "Green Fence" campaign to stop the import of waste failing to meet certain standards. In July 2017, China notified the World Trade Organization of its intent to stop importing solid waste, and announced a timeline in compliance with WTO transparency requirements.
However, when the ban came into effect, it still threw some countries into chaos. The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries based in the U.S. described the impact as "devastating," with huge mountains of waste piling up in some places. Admittedly, the ban will hit some industries and companies in China and abroad, but it is a necessity for China's economic restructuring and development. In addition, China's move will motivate other countries to upgrade their recycling equipment and technology. No country wants to be the "world's garbage dump" forever. Everyone should enjoy an equal right to a pleasant environment.
It is imperative for China and other countries to improve domestic and local waste disposal capacity. By contrast, northern European countries are even worried about the insufficiency of the garbage supply, as they are able to convert waste into energy efficiently with the most advanced technology. From packaging design to waste recycling, each link on the industrial chain has its own role to play. From governments to citizens, every party should contribute. To some extent, the "shutdown" of "the world's largest garbage disposal site" has opened up new opportunities. China is ready to work with other countries to seize these opportunities and meet new challenges.
China Mosaic
http://www.china.org.cn/video/node_7230027.htm
China's waste import ban: challenge and opportunity
http://www.china.org.cn/video/2018-01/18/content_50240620.htm
About China.org.cn
Founded in 2000, China Internet Information Center (China.org.cn/China.com.cn) is a key state news website under the auspices of the State Council Information Office, and is managed by China International Publishing Group. We provide round-the-clock news service in ten languages. With users from more than 200 countries and regions, we have become China's leading multi-lingual news outlet introducing the country to the outside world.
We are one of the country's authoritative outlets for government press releases and are authorized to cover various major events. "Live Webcast" is our online webcasting service to present State Council Information Office press conferences in both Chinese and English languages. We are reputed for timely and accurate delivery of news and information, and wide interactions with audiences. In addition, we are authorized to publish and live broadcast major events and press conferences of ministries, local government agencies and institutions as well as enterprises.
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