Recently, the General Office of the State Council issued the "Implementation Plan for Banning the Import of Foreign Waste and Promoting the Reform of the Solid Waste Import Management System" (hereinafter referred to as the "Plan"). The "Plan" clearly states that by the end of 2017, a comprehensive ban will be imposed on the import of solid wastes that pose a great environmental hazard and have been strongly complained by the public; by the end of 2019, the import of solid wastes that can be replaced by Chinese resources will be gradually stopped.

The following is the full text of the "Plan":

Banning the Import of Foreign Waste

Implementation Plan for Promoting the Reform of the Solid Waste Import Management System

Since the 1980s, in order to alleviate the shortage of raw materials, China has begun to import solid waste that can be used as raw materials from abroad. At the same time, in order to strengthen management and prevent environmental risks, a relatively complete solid waste import management system has been gradually established. In recent years, various regions and relevant departments have done a lot of work in combating the smuggling of foreign waste and strengthening the supervision of imported solid waste, and have achieved certain results. However, since some places still have the idea of focusing on development and neglecting environmental protection, some enterprises are willing to take risks in order to seek illegal profits. The problem of illegal import of foreign waste has been repeatedly banned, seriously endangering the health of the people and the safety of China's ecological environment. In accordance with the decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council on promoting the construction of ecological civilization and the reform of the ecological civilization system, the following plan is formulated to comprehensively ban the import of foreign garbage, promote the reform of the solid waste import management system, promote the harmless and resourceful utilization of China's solid waste, and protect the ecological environment and the health of the people.

I. General Requirements

(I) Guiding Ideology. We will fully implement the spirit of the 18th CPC National Congress and the Third, Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Plenary Sessions of the 18th CPC Central Committee, thoroughly implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's series of important speeches and the new ideas, thoughts and strategies for governing the country, conscientiously implement the decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, coordinate the promotion of the "five-in-one" overall layout and the coordinated promotion of the "four comprehensive" strategic layout, firmly establish and implement the development concept of innovation, coordination, greenness, openness and sharing, adhere to the people-centered development thinking, adhere to the general tone of work of seeking progress while maintaining stability, focus on improving the quality and efficiency of development, take supply-side structural reform as the main line, and take deepening reform as the driving force. We will comprehensively ban the entry of foreign garbage and improve the management system of imported solid waste; effectively strengthen the management of solid waste recycling and utilization, vigorously develop the circular economy, effectively improve the environmental quality, safeguard the national ecological environment security and the health of the people.

(II) Basic principles.

Adhere to the combination of dredging and blocking, and treat both the symptoms and the root causes. Adjust and improve the management policy of imported solid waste, continue to maintain a high-pressure situation, and severely crack down on the smuggling of foreign garbage; improve the level of China's solid waste recycling and utilization.

Adhere to steady progress and classified measures. According to factors such as environmental risks and the current status of industrial development, a timetable for banning imports will be formulated by industry and category, and the management catalogue of imported solid waste will be adjusted in batches and categories; legal, economic and administrative means will be used comprehensively to significantly reduce the types and quantities of imports and completely ban the entry of foreign garbage.

Adhere to coordination and cooperation and implement it vigorously. All departments should cooperate closely and work together in accordance with their respective responsibilities to form a joint force, strengthen follow-up supervision, and ensure that all tasks are implemented and effective according to the time nodes. Local people's governments at all levels should fulfill their main responsibilities and do a good job in comprehensive remediation of solid waste distribution centers, industrial transformation and development, and employment and resettlement of personnel.

(III) Main objectives. Strictly manage the import of solid waste. By the end of 2017, a comprehensive ban will be imposed on the import of solid waste that is highly harmful to the environment and has been strongly complained by the masses; by the end of 2019, the import of solid waste that can be replaced by Chinese resources will be gradually stopped. Ensure the safety of the ecological environment by continuously strengthening supervision of all links such as the import, transportation and utilization of solid waste. Maintain a high-pressure situation in combating the smuggling of foreign garbage and completely block the entry of foreign garbage. Strengthen resource conservation and intensive utilization, comprehensively improve the level of harmless and resource-based utilization of China's solid waste, gradually fill China's resource gap, and provide strong guarantees for building a beautiful China and building a moderately prosperous society in all respects.

II. Improve the regulatory system to block the import of foreign garbage

(IV) Prohibit the import of solid waste that has serious environmental hazards and has caused strong public complaints. Before the end of July 2017, adjust the management catalog of imported solid waste; before the end of 2017, prohibit the import of waste plastics from daily life, unsorted waste paper, textile waste, vanadium slag and other varieties. (The Ministry of Environmental Protection, the Ministry of Commerce, the National Development and Reform Commission, the General Administration of Customs, and the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine are responsible for implementation)

(V) Gradually and orderly reduce the types and quantities of imported solid waste. Adjust the management catalog of imported solid waste in batches and categories, and significantly reduce the types and quantities of imported solid waste. (The Ministry of Environmental Protection, the Ministry of Commerce, the National Development and Reform Commission, the General Administration of Customs, and the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine are responsible for implementation and will be completed before the end of 2019)

(VI) Raise the threshold for solid waste imports. Further tighten the standards, revise the Environmental Protection Control Standards for Imported Solid Waste that Can Be Used as Raw Materials, and tighten the control indicators for entrained materials. (The Ministry of Environmental Protection and the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine are responsible for implementation, and will be completed by the end of 2017) Issue the Regulations on Environmental Protection Management of Imported Waste Paper, and increase the scale requirements for enterprises processing and utilizing imported waste paper. (The Ministry of Environmental Protection is responsible for implementation, and will be completed by the end of 2017) (VII) Improve laws, regulations and related systems. Revise the Measures for the Administration of Solid Waste Import, limit the ports for solid waste import, and reduce the number of ports for solid waste import. (The Ministry of Environmental Protection, the Ministry of Commerce, the National Development and Reform Commission, the General Administration of Customs, and the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine are responsible for implementation, and will be completed by the end of 2018) Improve the solid waste import license system and cancel the import agency of trading units. (The Ministry of Environmental Protection, the Ministry of Commerce, the National Development and Reform Commission, the General Administration of Customs, and the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine are responsible for implementation, and will be completed by the end of 2017) Increase the number of solid waste identification units and solve prominent problems such as difficulty in identification. (The Ministry of Environmental Protection, the General Administration of Customs, and the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine are responsible for implementation, and the task is to be completed by the end of 2017) Propose amendments to the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Prevention and Control of Environmental Pollution by Solid Waste and other laws and regulations in a timely manner, and raise the penalty standards for smuggling foreign garbage and illegally importing solid waste. (The Ministry of Environmental Protection, the General Administration of Customs, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, and the State Council Legislative Affairs Office are responsible for implementation, and the task is to be completed by the end of 2019)

(VIII) Ensure a smooth transition of policies. Do a good job in policy interpretation and public opinion guidance, and disclose the time nodes and management requirements for policy adjustments and implementation in accordance with laws and regulations. (The Central Propaganda Department, the Cyberspace Administration of China, the Ministry of Environmental Protection, the Ministry of Commerce, the National Development and Reform Commission, the General Administration of Customs, and the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine are responsible for implementation, and the task is to be completed by the end of 2020) Comprehensively utilize existing policies and measures to promote industry transformation, optimize industrial structure, and do a good job in reemployment of relevant employees. (The relevant local people's governments are responsible for implementation, and the task is to be completed by the end of 2020)

III. Strengthen the control of illegal entry of foreign garbage

(IX) Continue to crack down on the smuggling of foreign garbage. The crackdown on the smuggling of foreign garbage is the top priority of customs work, and illegal acts such as smuggling of hazardous waste, medical waste, electronic waste, and domestic waste are severely investigated and dealt with. Various special anti-smuggling operations are further promoted, and the anti-smuggling work at sea and in non-customs areas along the border is intensified. The channels for the smuggling of foreign garbage into the country are blocked, and smuggling acts such as hiding, false reporting, concealment, and reselling of certificates and goods are severely cracked down on. Foreign garbage found in special anti-smuggling operations will be resolutely returned or destroyed in accordance with the law. (The General Administration of Customs, the Ministry of Public Security, and the China Coast Guard are responsible for long-term implementation) Jointly carry out special operations to strengthen supervision and severely crack down on illegal foreign garbage, focusing on cracking down on various illegal acts such as smuggling, illegal import and use of solid waste such as waste plastics, waste paper, domestic waste, electronic waste, and waste clothing. (The General Administration of Customs, the Ministry of Environmental Protection, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, and the Ministry of Public Security are responsible for implementation and will be completed by the end of November 2017) Joint special inspections are carried out on waste plastic import and processing and utilization enterprises, focusing on reselling certificates, reselling goods, and corporate qualifications not meeting the requirements. (The General Administration of Customs, the Ministry of Environmental Protection, and the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine are responsible for implementation, and the task is to be completed by the end of November 2017)

(10) Strengthen supervision over the entire process. Strictly review applications for imported solid waste, reduce the number of solid waste import licenses, and control the total amount of permitted imports. (The Ministry of Environmental Protection is responsible for long-term implementation) Strengthen supervision and management of key control points such as on-site inspection, result review, and certificate issuance before shipment of imported solid waste, strengthen entry inspection and quarantine, and strictly implement on-site unpacking and unloading regulations and inspection standards. (The General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine is responsible for long-term implementation) Further strengthen the inspection of imported solid waste, and strictly implement the "three 100%" inspection requirements (100% inspection for containers equipped with container inspection equipment, 100% unpacking for containers not equipped with container inspection equipment, and 100% weighing). (The General Administration of Customs is responsible for long-term implementation) Strengthen on-site inspections of key risk-regulated enterprises, and severely investigate and punish reselling, illegal processing and utilization of imported solid waste, and other environmental violations. (The Ministry of Environmental Protection and the General Administration of Customs are responsible for long-term implementation)

(11) Comprehensively rectify solid waste distribution centers. Carry out special rectification actions on the typical waste storage, disposal and utilization distribution centers of China's waste plastics, waste clothing and electronic waste. Implement the "Action Plan for Soil Pollution Prevention and Control" and urge relevant local people's governments to clean up and rectify the recycling activities of electronic waste, waste tires, waste plastics, etc., and include the rectification situation in the key content of the central environmental protection inspection. (The Ministry of Environmental Protection, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Commerce, the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, and relevant local people's governments are responsible for implementation and will be completed before the end of 2017)

Fourth, establish a long-term mechanism to block the entry of foreign garbage

(XII) Implement the main responsibility of enterprises. Strengthen daily law enforcement and supervision, and increase the intensity of investigation and punishment of illegal and criminal acts such as smuggling foreign garbage, illegal import of solid waste, reselling or illegal processing and utilization of solid waste. Strengthen legal publicity and training to further enhance corporate awareness of law-abiding. (The General Administration of Customs, the Ministry of Environmental Protection, the Ministry of Public Security, and the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine are responsible for long-term implementation) Establish and improve the law enforcement information sharing mechanism between the central and local governments and between departments, publicize the information of enterprises that violate the solid waste utilization and disposal laws on the China Credit Information Sharing Platform, the "Credit China" website, and the National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System, and carry out joint punishment. (The National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Environmental Protection, the Ministry of Commerce, the General Administration of Customs, the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, etc. are responsible for long-term implementation)

(13) Establish an international cooperation mechanism. Promote the establishment of a foreign garbage anti-smuggling cooperation mechanism with Vietnam and other ASEAN countries, and initiate regional joint law enforcement actions at an appropriate time. Use international law enforcement cooperation channels to strengthen intelligence research and judgment on foreign garbage sources abroad, strengthen cooperation with the World Customs Organization, Interpol, the United Nations Environment Program and other institutions, and establish and improve an international cooperation mechanism for the return of smuggled foreign garbage. (The General Administration of Customs, the Ministry of Public Security, and the Ministry of Environmental Protection are responsible for long-term implementation)

(14) Explore new channels for renewable resources. Promote the transformation of trade and processing models, actively provide services for Chinese enterprises to "go global", guide relevant enterprises to comply with the laws and regulations of the host countries, protect local resources and environment, and maintain the good image of Chinese enterprises. (The National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and the Ministry of Commerce are responsible for long-term implementation)

V. Improve the level of solid waste recycling and utilization in China

(15) Improve the recycling rate of solid waste in China. Accelerate the construction of China's solid waste recycling and utilization system, establish and improve the extended producer responsibility system, promote the classification of urban and rural domestic waste, and improve the recycling rate of solid waste in China. By 2020, China's solid waste recycling volume will be increased from 246 million tons in 2015 to 350 million tons. (The National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Commerce, and the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development are responsible for implementation)

(16) Standardize the development of China's solid waste processing and utilization industry. Give full play to the leading role of "urban mineral" demonstration bases, major demonstration projects for resource recycling, circular economy demonstration parks, etc., and the driving role of key recycling enterprises, improve the infrastructure for recycling and utilization of renewable resources, and promote the park-based, large-scale and clean development of China's solid waste processing and utilization. (The National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and the Ministry of Commerce are responsible for long-term implementation)

(17) Increase scientific and technological research and development efforts. Improve the technical level of solid waste resource utilization equipment. Improve the level of dismantling and utilization of discarded electrical and electronic products and scrapped cars. Encourage and support enterprises to cooperate with scientific research institutes and universities to carry out research and development and industrialization of non-wood fiber papermaking technology and equipment, strive to improve the application level of non-wood fibers such as bamboo, reeds, bagasse, and straw, and increase the promotion of non-wood fiber clean pulping technology. (The National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Science and Technology, and the Ministry of Commerce are responsible for long-term implementation)

(18) Effectively strengthen publicity and guidance. Increase publicity efforts on the management of solid waste imports and the effectiveness of combating the smuggling of foreign garbage, and promptly disclose typical cases of violations and crimes to demonstrate China's firm determination to protect the safety of the ecological environment and the health of the people. Actively guide the public to participate in garbage classification, advocate green consumption, and resist excessive packaging. Vigorously promote the "Internet +" ordering, design, production, sales, and logistics model, advocate the economical use of paper, plastic, etc., and strive to create a good atmosphere for the whole society to support and actively practice environmental protection and resource conservation. (The Central Propaganda Department, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Environmental Protection, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, the Ministry of Commerce, the General Administration of Customs, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, and the Cyberspace Administration of China are responsible for long-term implementation)

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