China Solid Waste Ban: 24 types of import waste no longer acceptable

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China has told the world "enough of your garbage". 24 types of foreign solid waste are no longer being imported. The US and Europe feel the impact most. But Chinese officials say with landfills overflowing, it was time to cry foul.

LYU FENGLIN GUANGZHOU ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT "The new ban promotes environmental protection. Here in Guangdong province, we are following the central government's orders to promote the construction of ecological civilization."

The now banned substances are items most people throw out everyday, like plastics, and assorted types of paper. Most are recyclable. But some experts say even the globe's greenest products leave behind at least 25 percent waste. And they add that the world's largest country can now only take care of its own.

LYU FENGLIN GUANGZHOU ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT "China is entering a new era. People hate the so-called 'foreign garbage'. We need to follow the will of the people and put environmental protection on the agenda."

With strict limits on what China can now take in, customs officers have their inspection work cut out for them.

QIU LIANG GUANGZHOU CUSTOMS "We anticipate that, at first, there will still be high demand for imported solid waste. Some may try to smuggle banned items in the cargo, so we will pay special attention to everything we inspect."

MARK FONTES GUANGZHOU "At this inspection site here in Guangzhou, the trucks pass through this scanner behind me. That's where they root out all types of solid waste, especially the 24 types that are now part of the ban."

QIU LIANG GUANGZHOU CUSTOMS "We follow the 'three 100 percent' rule. We weigh 100 percent of the containers, scan 100 percent of them through the X-ray like portal, then if we find something abnormal, we manually inspect 100 percent of the cargo."

In 2016, China brought in more than 23 billion yuan worth of foreign solid waste. But that amounts to just a small fraction of China's overall GDP, and experts say companies that relied on solid waste for salvageable materials won't suffer under the ban.

LYU FENGLIN GUANGZHOU ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT "Many companies have already gone abroad and built their recycling factories in other countries. Some have started to make use of domestic waste in China. The new ban shall have little overall effect on the economy."

And those abroad are finding alternative solutions. Jim Fish, CEO of Waste Management Inc. says "this ban is expected to have a minimal impact" on U.S. solid waste. From incineration to storing waste elsewhere, he says the ban will help countries actively pursue other options. However, anyone now found in violation of China's ban faces steep penalties.

LIU YINGZI ANTI-SMUGGLING BUREAU, GUANGZHOU CUSTOMS "Violators face several fines, and up to five years in prison. In some serious cases, they face at least five years behind bars, and higher fines."

For a complete list of the 24 banned types of solid waste, visit mep.gov.cn. Mark Fontes, CGTN, Guangzhou.