China to Establish Scrap Electronics Recycling Systems

Installation and operation of recycling systems in these two locations will provide practical references for the central government in setting up corresponding regulations and industrial standards for recycling of scrap electronics at other locations. However, NDRC did not reveal any details for the projects to be carried out at these two sites.

Zhejiang Province is one of the most affluent provinces in China and is believed to have a high penetration rate for electronic products. Meanwhile, Qingdao in eastern China's Shandong Province is home to China's top state-owned electronic manufacturers, Haier and Hisense.

Under a scheme developed by NDRC and China's environmental authorities, China's electronics makers will be obliged to reclaim their scrap electronic products, including mobile handsets, PCs, TV sets, refrigerators, wash-machines and air conditioners. The scheme is also set to relieve the heavy burdens on governments for recycling scrap electronics.

The recycling system for scrap electronics will be run under market-oriented disciplines, NDRC said. The government will also provide favorable policies to support the recycling industry.

Scrap electronics products contain harmful materials such as lead, cadmium, hydrargyrum and chromium. China has witnessed a tremendous growth in discarded scrap electronic products since 2003, with 4 million refrigerators, 5 million TV sets and 5 million washing machines being discarded annually.