The Chinese government announced this summer that it will strictly limit the import of rubbishes from 2018. In the short term, the losses of local governments and related waste recycling enterprises at various levels in France may be unavoidable, but in the long run, this disruptive decision may prompt manufacturing relocation .
According to the French "Tribune" reported on November 4, the world has rested its breath since July 18. Local governments, refuse recycling enterprises and governments of various countries all over the world are eager to wait for China's strict China's Ministry of Environmental Protection said 24 types of rubbish will be banned from being imported, including plastic rubbish, waste paper, waste textile raw materials and scrap from steel production.
Reported that the Chinese government will be given by the end of this year a detailed list of banned imports of waste, there are only some informal privately circulating programs, especially plastic recycling industry. : Most businesses consider the permitted amount of waste to be imported as waste plastic likely to be banned.
Yevgenyya, a partner at France-based Jethro, which has an office in Shanghai, said the Chinese government's decision, due to concerns about environmental impact and domestic health, which recognizes the sovereign decision-making by governments of all countries, The main objective of this policy is to promote the recycling and reuse of domestic waste and to reduce the pollution of soil and air.
Reported that the Chinese government's decision to adopt the WTO without any prior consultation, but its impact may be fierce.In 2014, China imported 49.6 million tons of garbage used to extract the raw materials needed for industrial production , Accounting for more than a quarter of the world's total exports of raw materials and rubbish, accounting for more than half of such rubbish exports in Europe.China's role as a global dump site is clear in plastic rubbish: Every year, The total amount of plastic waste that can be extracted from raw materials is about 11.8 million tons, while 9 million tons were eventually used in China's manufacturing industry.
Yevgenyya said: 'This will be a worldwide market change that involves all Western countries.' "However, FRA explained in a bulletin the next day after China announced its decision: 'By then, the rest of the world Of the factories will not be able to digest the huge amount of garbage that is imported from China today.
Yevgeny added: "Europe now has very little demand for renewable plastic waste and simply can not afford to absorb the additional excess waste (caused by China's policy)." The loaded cargo ship to China will have to sail for about 3 months In this connection, the French Federation of Recycling Enterprises pointed out: 'From the beginning of October, those who transport rubbish to China have to take risks, and for months, China Customs has stepped up its control of imported rubbish.'
Reportedly, France currently does not have enough storage capacity for rubbish, and the stock of rubbish has been increasing over the years.More worse, with the increase of rubbish supply, the market of recyclable plastic rubbishes has collapsed.In the short term, Much of the rubbish being exported to China may be incinerated or landfilled, contrary to the French government's commitment to 100% reuse of plastic by 2025.
Yevgeny believes tax on "ecological contribution" should be added to the plastic products imported into the European Union to make up for the deficit in garbage disposal in various parts of France, which will affect the export of Chinese products to the EU (Chinese products are also EU The main source of rubbish) is reflected in the form of revenge on the outside, which can also play a role of encouraging the concept of "ecology." However, this road will soon reach the limit: "EU law strictly controls new landfill or incineration Facilities, and the current facilities will certainly be less capable of handling. '
The report argues that in the long run, the hope should be that turning China's ban on imported rubbish into a "great opportunity to enhance the recycling industry in France and Europe." The first is to improve the quality of garbage collection and, more importantly, to seek And to promote the recovery of recycled materials in the local market outlet.
Yevgeny pointed out that the price of recycled materials for a brief collapse plummeted, but also to revive the European manufacturing industry.Requirements on the European market for products must contain a certain percentage of recycled materials, will provide European companies a recovery period In order to better face China's competition.