Why China decided to introduce new regulations on plastic waste

China stopped accepting imports of most foreign plastic waste and paper on Jan 1.

On July 18 last year, the State Council, China's Cabinet, announced new regulations banning the import of foreign waste.

On the same day, China told the World Trade Organization it would no longer accept imports of 24 types of solid waste, including unsorted waste paper, textiles and plastics by the end of 2017, according to a WTO document.