Recently, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the Ministry of Commerce, the National Development and Reform Commission and the General Administration of Customs jointly issued the Notice on Matters Concerning the Total Ban on the Import of Solid Waste. The notice pointed out that China will ban the import of solid waste in any form from January 1, 2021.

The announcement mainly includes the following three aspects. First, China will completely ban the import of solid waste, and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment will no longer approve or issue import licenses for restricted imports of solid waste that can be used as raw materials.The second are solid wastes generated within the areas under special customs supervision and bonded and supervisory areas in the unit, under special customs supervision and bonded and supervisory areas outside the bonded repair and remanufacturing business units produced in the process of production, all in accordance with the relevant provisions of domestic solid waste management. Third, the announcement shall take effect on January 1, 2021, and the relevant normative documents shall be abolished at the same time.

China will ban the import of solid waste in any form and the dumping, stacking and disposal of solid waste outside the country from Jan 1, 2021, according to responsible person in charge of the solid waste and chemicals under the Ministry of Ecology and Environment. In case of importing overseas solid waste into China in violation of relevant provisions, the Customs shall, in accordance with laws and regulations such as the Solid Waste Law, order its return and impose a fine. If the case constitutes a crime, criminal responsibility shall be investigated according to law. At the same time, the carrier and the importer are jointly and severally liable for the return and disposal of solid waste.