China's ban on foreign waste has set good example

Editor's note: After China implemented a ban on 24 types of imported waste in January, countries in Southeast Asia have become the main destination for the waste. Haiwainet.cn comments:

For decades, China was the world's largest importer of foreign waste, as it sought to alleviate its shortage of raw materials. However, the lack of supervision over the waste processing and recycling industry and improper disposal of hazardous materials resulted in hazardous environmental pollution, which finally prompted the government to impose the ban on imports of harmful foreign waste.

Developed countries that had become accustomed to shipping their waste to China were left with no option but to dispose of their own waste or find other countries willing to accept it.