Chinese customs sends back 2,000 tonnes of waste

DALIAN -- Customs in the city of Dalian in Northeast China's Liaoning province said Thursday they had shipped nearly 2,000 tonnes of smuggled solid waste back to where it originated from.

Disguised with fake documents, the waste of aluminum-containing slag, calx and residue seized in 2016 was returned on Wednesday.

According to customs, long-term storage of the waste will occupy port resources and may also be harmful to the surrounding environment and human health.

It has been the largest batch of returned foreign waste in the city so far this year. In May, Dalian customs sent back more than 688 tonnes of aluminum dross.

China began importing solid waste as a source of raw materials in the 1980s and was the world's largest importer for years, despite its weak capacity in garbage disposal. Some companies have illegally brought foreign waste into the country for profit, posing a threat to the environment and public health.

Given rising public awareness of environmental protection and China's green development drive, the country decided to phase out and halt such imports by the end of 2019, except for those containing resources that are not substitutable.