Ban on imports of waste into China

Question for written answer  E-006989/2020
to the Commission
Rule 138
Marco Dreosto (ID)

Until now, the People’s Republic of China has managed almost half of global waste, from all over the world (most of it plastic waste), but since 2017 it has been gradually reducing the volume of waste admitted from other countries.

The Chinese Government has now announced a total ban on imports of waste to be processed, starting on 1 January, and this has very serious consequences for the European Union.

In recent years, because of the objective lack of facilities (particularly in the countries of southern Europe), in the EU there has also been an increase in cases of illegal disposal, fires in storage depots and the sending of materials to countries where environmental safeguards are poor.

In view of the above, can the Commission say how it plans to tackle this situation, which is likely to develop in the near future into a real global emergency, for instance through specific co-partnership projects with Member States for the identification of new waste treatment facilities within the boundaries of the EU?