China’s New Scrap Import Policy
Fastmarket, is a specialist international publisher and information provider for the global steel, non-ferrous, and scrap metals markets that have released a report recently saying that China Certification and Inspection Group (CCIC) has revised the terms and regulations for the Chinese traders to import scrap metal to China. More to the point, the traders must attend a training section to understand the new set of trading regulations by Chinese officials. However, these terms have not yet been published in English.
Ban on Non Ferrous Scrap Export to China
China has preplanned this ban since June 2017. Accordingly, China Certification and Inspection Group (CCIC) have implemented a complete ban on scrap imports after 31 December 2020. The new regulations of CCIC have quoted a stringent inspection on the contamination standards of Copper, Aluminum, and Brass Scrap Which is not in the form of scrap but more as recycled raw materials.
Why China has implemented this New Trade Policy?
China has already implemented a ban on plastic waste in late 2017 for environmental concerns and now they have extended to scrap metals. The Government has taken the necessary steps to protect its environment from scrap dumping that is considered to be the most polluting one. This can also help the government to restrict all the illegal trashes and poor recycling practices within China.
USA and China
The USA is one of the major resources and significant exporter of high-quality scrap commodities to industrial consumers of China. In 2017 China has imported 31% percent of U.S. scrap commodities worth $5.6 billion. In the last decade, the plastic and paper scrap consumption of china had increased to 50% and 70%, respectively. The Omni source Corporation in the US has made its point, due to the pandemic; there is a major disruption in the global supply chain of china. Recently the world recycling organization had an online discussion. In that Weinberg, the key speaker has pointed out that the trading relationship between China and the US had been broken by the pandemic ‘and I don’t see them returning’
Continuous Ban on Scrap Export to China.
As a part of china’s act of protecting its environment, there is a back to back a ban on scrap on a yearly basis. In 2018, a ban on plastics and paper from household collections from all the sources has been implemented. In 2019, a new set of regulations have been announced to allow certain ferrous and nonferrous metal scraps through Chinese ports. In 2020, a ban on stainless steel and other metallic scraps. In addition to this, strict and tougher standards have been announced for copper, brass, and aluminum scrap from 1 July.
ISRI Supports China’s New Import Regulations
ISRI (Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries) has given a warm welcome to this new policy of China and has appreciated the new efforts taken by the government of China. In fact, ISRI is acting as an information repository of china to help its members to follow the new regulations announced by its government. ISRI also supports China’s Government in practicing the new regulations by providing training to the traders in environmental, health, safety, and overall business. ISRI is playing a major role in protecting the environment and its close loop economy practices.
Close Loop Recycling Practices
One of the essential methods of waste management is the closed-loop economy supported by recycling. This is a recycling process where a recyclable item that has reached its end life is recycled into new products. In the second phase of its manufacturing process the collected, recyclable materials are processed and then used in the production of a product. This helps the domestic recycling industries of china in a healthy manner.
Increased Scrap Demand for China’s economy.
From 31 of December 2020, there is a complete ban on scrap metal export to china. However, there can be an upcoming huge requirement in 2021. To make use of this demand the Non-Ferrous metal has to be well processed and the outcome should be more of raw material before being allowed through Chinese ports. Yet there is no proper announcement in English from China Certification and Inspection Group