In contrast to the global trade system promoted by developed countries, GRS
does not involve technology transfer, since it is promoted by developing countries
under strong internal resource demand. The volume of trade through unofficial
channels has rapidly increased, and negative aspects such as illegal exports and
resultant environmental pollution problems have surfaced. China has been importing
recyclable waste from across the world for many years. According to the latest
Chinese government statistics, China bought 49.6 million tons of garbage in 2015
alone. The European Union exports half of its collected and classified plastic waste,
85% of which goes to China. Ireland sent 95% of its plastic waste to China in 2016.
In the same year, the United States exported more than 16 million tons of waste to
China, equivalent in value to 5.2 billion USD (approximately 570 billion CNY):
There is a lot of dirty or even dangerous garbage in solid waste that can be used as raw
materials,
China’s Environment Ministry said in a notification to the WTO. However, from
January 2018, imports of some of the 24 types of solid waste were banned (State
Council 2017). Imports of waste products have thus been falling, also as a result of
slowing economic growth, declining resource demand, and falling resource prices,
although illegal imports and secondary pollution are the most serious causes. In
future, imports and exports of resource waste are expected to resume due to
economic growth and resource depletion. However, if waste from recycled resources
that are no longer in demand is incinerated or dumped in landfill with other waste, it
could lead to an environmental catastrophe. This phenomenon is a challenge for a
GRS. In order to overcome this, appropriate treatment technologies must be applied
to the import and export of resource waste, to ensure thorough environmental
guidance and compliance with the Basel Convention, and to reduce the amount
and hazardous nature of resource waste. A mechanism must be established to
eliminate the risk of environmental pollution across all supply chains, including
physical properties, shipping conditions, land transportation, port storage, port
handling, maritime transportation, and recycling plants of exported circulated
resources. The CJK circular economy model will play an important role in this. In
environmental cooperation in the East Asian region, regional facilities that can serve
as bases should be established, where resources can be consolidated, allowing
eventual expansion. Such a process can contribute to achievement of the United
Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
References
2nd Japan, China and Korea Summit (2009) Joint Statement on Sustainable Development among
the People’s Republic of China, Japan and the Republic of Korea, Beijing, China,10 Oct 2009.
https://www.mofa.go.jp/region/asia-paci/jck/meet0910/joint-2.pdf. Accessed 5 June 2020
6th Japan, China and Korea Summit (2015) Joint declaration for peace and cooperation in Northeast
Asia, Seoul, Republic of Korea. https://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/a_o/rp/page3_001450.html.
Accessed 5 June 2020
318
W. Zhou et al.
does not involve technology transfer, since it is promoted by developing countries
under strong internal resource demand. The volume of trade through unofficial
channels has rapidly increased, and negative aspects such as illegal exports and
resultant environmental pollution problems have surfaced. China has been importing
recyclable waste from across the world for many years. According to the latest
Chinese government statistics, China bought 49.6 million tons of garbage in 2015
alone. The European Union exports half of its collected and classified plastic waste,
85% of which goes to China. Ireland sent 95% of its plastic waste to China in 2016.
In the same year, the United States exported more than 16 million tons of waste to
China, equivalent in value to 5.2 billion USD (approximately 570 billion CNY):
There is a lot of dirty or even dangerous garbage in solid waste that can be used as raw
materials,
China’s Environment Ministry said in a notification to the WTO. However, from
January 2018, imports of some of the 24 types of solid waste were banned (State
Council 2017). Imports of waste products have thus been falling, also as a result of
slowing economic growth, declining resource demand, and falling resource prices,
although illegal imports and secondary pollution are the most serious causes. In
future, imports and exports of resource waste are expected to resume due to
economic growth and resource depletion. However, if waste from recycled resources
that are no longer in demand is incinerated or dumped in landfill with other waste, it
could lead to an environmental catastrophe. This phenomenon is a challenge for a
GRS. In order to overcome this, appropriate treatment technologies must be applied
to the import and export of resource waste, to ensure thorough environmental
guidance and compliance with the Basel Convention, and to reduce the amount
and hazardous nature of resource waste. A mechanism must be established to
eliminate the risk of environmental pollution across all supply chains, including
physical properties, shipping conditions, land transportation, port storage, port
handling, maritime transportation, and recycling plants of exported circulated
resources. The CJK circular economy model will play an important role in this. In
environmental cooperation in the East Asian region, regional facilities that can serve
as bases should be established, where resources can be consolidated, allowing
eventual expansion. Such a process can contribute to achievement of the United
Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
References
2nd Japan, China and Korea Summit (2009) Joint Statement on Sustainable Development among
the People’s Republic of China, Japan and the Republic of Korea, Beijing, China,10 Oct 2009.
https://www.mofa.go.jp/region/asia-paci/jck/meet0910/joint-2.pdf. Accessed 5 June 2020
6th Japan, China and Korea Summit (2015) Joint declaration for peace and cooperation in Northeast
Asia, Seoul, Republic of Korea. https://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/a_o/rp/page3_001450.html.
Accessed 5 June 2020
318
W. Zhou et al.