China to Restrict Scrap Steel, Aluminum Imports

China will begin restricting imports of scrap steel and aluminum starting July 1, according to a statement released by the country’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment. This is the country’s latest move to keep it from being a dumping ground for global waste.  

Beginning July 1, imports of eight kinds of solid waste, including ferrous, copper and aluminum scrap, will be moved to a list of restricted waste material, according to China's Ministry of Ecology and Environment. That means imports of such waste will be subject to government approvals.

Reuters reports that copper and aluminum raw materials meeting relevant national standards would not be considered solid waste and can be imported as regular goods.

Reuters has more details:

China will restrict imports of scrap steel and aluminum from July 1, the environment ministry said on Saturday.

Scrap steel and aluminum would be moved from an unrestricted import list of solid waste products usable as raw materials to a restricted import list, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment said in a statement.

Relevant departments were researching the formulation of standards for recycled copper and aluminum, it said.

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