China to intensify efforts against pollution with new probes, import restrictions  

SHANGHAI, Jun 28 (SMM) – China will intensify the crackdown on pollution as it launches the second round of nationwide environmental inspections, following reviews last year, said an official of the environment ministry at a briefing on Thursday June 27. 

The new probes will last from 2019 to 2022, and will target the performance of state-owned firms. Inspectors will monitor key environmental issues, oversee local improvements, and push local government accountability.

As another effort to reduce pollution, China will start to restrict the import of Category Six copper scrap on July 1, after the import ban on Category Seven copper scrap from the start of the year. 

SMM estimated that the import ban to cause a decline in Category Seven scrap imports by 60,000 mt in the third quarter, and by 131,000 mt throughout 2019. 

While roughly the same amount of Category Six materials, compared with a year ago, received the green light for import into China in the third quarter, uncertainties remain regarding the import approvals for the fourth quarter.  

China also aims to cut solid waste imports to zero by next year.