China passes the Law on the Prevention and Control of Environmental Pollution

Premier of the State Council chaired the executive meeting of the State Council on June 5, at which the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Prevention and Control of Environmental Pollution by Solid Wastes (Revised Draft) was adopted. The draft strengthens the responsibility of producers of industrial solid waste, improves the permit system for sewage discharge, and calls for speeding up the establishment of classified disposal, collection, transportation and treatment systems for domestic waste. The meeting decided to submit the draft to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress for consideration.

China's industrial solid waste production is huge, and is affected by industrial production process and other factors, resulting in a variety of types and complex components. The data show that the output of industrial solid waste in China increases by 10% annually on average, and the total amount of industrial solid waste accumulated over the years amounts to 60 billion to 70 billion tons. According to a previous survey conducted by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, more than ten general industrial solid waste storage and disposal sites have been built in China, mostly serving enterprises in industrial parks. 

According to the Annual Report on the Prevention and Control of Environmental Pollution by Solid Waste in Large and Medium-sized Cities of China published by the Ministry of Ecological Environment in December 2018, the output of general industrial solid waste in large and medium-sized cities is 1.31 billion tons, that of industrial hazardous waste is 40.101 million tons, that of medical waste is 781,000 tons, and that of domestic waste is 20.1944 million tons.

In addition to the extension of producer responsibility system and garbage classification system, this amendment also revised the specific penalties. Several penalties for illegal acts were raised to 1 million yuan, and the illegal costs of printing and packaging enterprises were further increased. It is particularly important to point out that the amendment of the Solid Waste Law has increased the emission permit system, environmental protection tax, environmental liability insurance and other aspects, and reiterated the prohibition order of "foreign garbage". In addition, the amendment also adds new provisions on regional cooperation to co-ordinate the construction of regional hazardous waste centralized disposal facilities.