National Organizations Submit Comments to WTO Regarding National Sword

20 Dec 2017

As Waste Dive reported last month, China's Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) proposed adopting new contamination standards on Dec. 31, 2017 with an "entry into force" on March 1, 2018. The comment period for this filing ended Dec. 15, 2017.

The filings described a slight relaxation of the previously announced 0.3% carried waste standard for all materials. The new standard for both "waste and scrap of plastics" and "waste and scrap of paper or paperboard" would be 0.5%.

The MEP also proposed a 0.5% standard for smelt slag, wood, waste electric motors, wires and cables, metal and appliance scrap, and ferrous metals. The standard for non-ferrous metals would be 1.0%. The automobile scrap standard is still 0.3%. 

All filings list "Protection of human health or safety; Protection of animal or plant life or health; Protection of the environment" as the objective of these proposals.

Several national organizations, including the American Forest and Paper Association (AF&PA), the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI), and the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) submitted comments, which you can read below. SWANA specifically noted the challenges the proposed standards would have on Oregon and Washington.

AF&PA Comments

ISRI Comments

SWANA Comments