In July 2017, the Chinese government established a set of new and complex parameters for importing recyclable waste from abroad. These rules went into effect on December 31, 2017, and are so stringent that they essentially amount to a ban on 24 different material types. Over the past two decades, the Asian country received 56 percent of all recyclable waste imports, making it one of the world's dumping grounds. China's recycling capability is formidable, and many see the ban as a protectionist measure, but the truth is that the Red Giant of the East faces its own waste troubles, including electronic waste.
According to the latest estimate by the United Nations, more than $55 billion in useful materials are trapped inside e-waste. The key is to recover them economically and efficiently, but judging by the images below, that goal is far off in China. The alternative is to reduce consumption (something the West resists) and openly combat the planned obsolescence installed by the main market players. It won't be easy.
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