China adopts law to promote "recycling economy"

China has made one of its first major steps towards addressing the impact of its fast-growing economy on both securing resources and safeguarding the environment by passing a new law promoting recycling and sustainability.

The legislation, which was passed by the National Peoples' Congress (NPC) on Friday (August 29), will require government departments to map out systems for both recycling and "waste re-utilisation".

Emphasising energy-saving alongside recycling as part of a "circular economy", the law places particular responsibility on businesses to boost their sustainability and reduce their use of resources.

The official Chinese state news agency, Xinhua, reported that "The government will launch close monitoring over high-consumption and high-emission industries, including the steel and non-ferrous metal production, power generation, oil refining, construction and printing industries."

Recycle
Xinhua added that: "Enterprises should recycle and make comprehensive use of coal mine waste, coal ash, and other waste materials."

And, the new legislation, which will be introduced on January 1 2009, will also involve the Chinese government allocating financial support for companies that look to encourage innovation in recycling technologies.

Export market
China is a major export market for recyclable materials collected in the UK, something that was acknowledged in a WRAP report published last month examining the carbon impact of selling materials to the fast-growing economy

However, one commentator told letsrecycle.com that the new legislation's emphasis on boosting Chinese domestic recycling and sustainable use of resources could, in the long term, impact on those markets.

And the law represented recognition by the Chinese government that it needed to address issues with securing resources for its industry and the impact of high commodity prices on its economy.

Copyright and Exemption Declaration :¢ÙAll articles, pictures and videos that are marked with "China Aluminum Network" on this website are copyright and belong to China Aluminium Network (www.alu.com.cn). When transshipment, any media, website or individual must list the source from "China Aluminium Network (www.alu.com.cn)". We seek legal actions against anyone that disobey this. ¢ÚArticles that marked as copy from others are for transferring more information to readers, do not represent or endorse their opinions or accuracy and reliability. When other media, website or individuals copy from our website, must keep the source. Anyone that changes the articles' sources will hold the responsibilities for copyright and law problems. We also seek legal actions against anyone that disobey this. ¢ÛIf any articles copied by our website concern the copyright and other problems, please contact us within one week.