Customs in N China seize 20 tonnes of imported solid waste

Customs in north China's Tianjin Municipality recently seized 20.47 tonnes of foreign waste in a container declared "empty."

The trash is identified as the scraps generated during the production of latex products. So far, further investigations into the illegal importation of foreign waste are underway.

China began importing solid waste as a source of raw materials in the 1980s and for years has been the world's largest importer, despite its limited capacity in garbage disposal. Some companies illegally brought foreign waste into the country for profit, posing a threat to the environment and public health. 

On January 1, 2021, China banned all imports of solid waste. With growing public awareness of environmental issues and tighter customs supervision, the country's solid waste imports have decreased significantly.

(Cover: Comic picture of the import of foreign waste. /CFP)