The General Office of the State Council issued the Opinions on Accelerating the Establishment of a Waste Recycling System on 6 February 2024. This policy expands the targets for waste recycling by 2025 and 2030, aiming to establish a comprehensive, efficient, and standardised waste recycling system. Compared to previous policies, clear quantitative targets for measuring effectiveness have been introduced. The new policy also widens the scope to include agricultural waste and bulk solid waste, and proposes additional pathways for resource utilisation such as energy generation from waste, next to introducing the concept of ‘Extended Producer Responsibility’. Furthermore, the policy aims to integrate international regulations and standards to align with global practices, notably those from the EU.
