China Bans E-Waste Imports

The Chinese government has announced that it is banning the import of electronic scrap into the country. The ban will take place Nov. 1. The decision follows a notice issued the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, the General Administration of Customs and the State Environmental Protection Administration. The list of banned items includes most old or scrap electronics.

In its decision, the Chinese government has complained that countries such as the United States and Japan have been using China as a dumping ground for obsolete electronic scrap.

Along with the restrictions, the new regulations also tighten restrictions on how to handle the import of some accepted material. The government agencies say that the list of banned items will be updated every year.