China issues draft rules to allow more recycled copper, aluminium imports

China has issued draft rules to allow more imports of recycled copper and aluminium to improve supply and industry competitiveness, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) said on Monday.

The world’s top metals producer and consumer has been looking to raise the usage of recycled metals as part of an efforts to lower carbon emission by the energy-intensive industry while avoiding becoming a dumping ground for waste materials from other countries.

Recycled copper, copper alloy raw materials, recycled aluminium and aluminium alloy raw materials are no longer categorized as solid waste, and can be imported without restrictions, MEE said in a notice asking for market opinions.
Source: Reuters (Reporting by Siyi Liu and Joe Cash; Editing by Bernadette Baum)