Liz Gyekye / PackagingNews

China aims for 70% recycling by 2015

China is aiming to recycle 70% of its “major waste products” by 2015, according to the Chinese government.

It also aims to put in place a “complete and advanced” system to recycle this waste, according to the government.

In a statement, the Chinese government said that the system should feature a complete waste collection network, advanced technologies, and well-functioning sorting and standard management.

It classes major waste products as metal, paper, plastic, glass, tyres, cars and electronic devices.

“It’s extremely urgent to establish such a system; the absence of which not only prevents the recycling of resources but also poses an imminent threat to the environment,” it stressed.

‘Speed’

To speed up the building of the system, it encourages a broad array of investment to participate in this initiative.

Small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as individual sanitation workers should be employed to carry out the collection work, it said, adding that favourable policies in terms of financing and land-use would also be available.

In addition to this, it proposes litigations on “extended duty” of producers and sellers to facilitate recycling, under which convenience and efficient recycling should be considered during the design and manufacture of products.

In its recent five-year-plan (2011-2015), China pledged to build a circular economy via a sustainable development pattern, promised to promote energy/resources conservation and emissions reduction.

In 2009, the country recycled 140 million tonnes of waste, resulting in 500 billion Yuan ($78.85 billion) in value, according to a statement from the Ministry of Commerce.