On July 31, 2026, the Legislative Affairs Commission of the Standing Committee of the Hubei Provincial People's Congress issued a "Notice on Soliciting Opinions on the Draft Regulations on Waste Recycling and Treatment in Hubei Province".

Enterprises engaged in the construction and operation of wind power and photovoltaic power generation should, either independently or by entrusting qualified enterprises, recycle or dispose of retired wind turbine blades and photovoltaic modules in a harmless manner.

People's governments at or above the county level shall take measures to strengthen the efficient utilization of renewable resources, enhance the standardized management of the renewable resource comprehensive utilization industry, support the greening, mechanization, and intelligent upgrading of existing renewable resource processing and utilization projects, and improve the level of renewable resource recycling. The reasonable extension of the renewable resource deep processing industrial chain is encouraged to increase product added value.

We encourage the use of ecological and environmental rights trading platforms to conduct transactions involving solid waste and other materials. We also encourage waste recycling operators to utilize advanced information technologies such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and big data to build waste recycling business information platforms and recycling traceability systems.

People's governments at the county level and above and their relevant departments shall support and promote the construction of second-hand goods trading markets and platforms. Market supervision and administration departments, commerce departments, and other relevant departments shall, within their respective responsibilities, strengthen the supervision and management of second-hand goods transactions.

Support the development of new business models such as "Internet + second-hand goods" and second-hand goods leasing and repurchase in the second-hand goods trading market.

Announcement on Soliciting Public Opinions on the Draft Regulations of Hubei Province on Waste Recycling and Treatment

Issuing Authority: Legislative Affairs Commission of the Standing Committee of the Hubei Provincial People's Congress

Release Date: 2026-07-31

Hubei Province Waste Recycling and Disposal Regulations

(draft)

Table of contents

Chapter 1 General Provisions

Chapter Two: Branch Construction

Chapter Three: Recycling Operations

Chapter Four: Utilization and Processing

Chapter Five: Safeguards and Supervision

Chapter Six Legal Liability

Chapter Seven Supplementary Provisions

Chapter 1 General Provisions

Article 1 [Legislative Purpose] This Regulation is formulated in accordance with the provisions of the Ecological and Environmental Protection Law of the People's Republic of China, the Law of the People's Republic of China on Promoting Circular Economy, and other laws and regulations, and in light of the actual conditions of this province, in order to promote the refined management, effective recycling, and efficient utilization of waste in all sectors of production and daily life, to build a waste recycling system, and to accelerate the comprehensive green transformation of economic and social development.

Article 2 [Scope of Application] This regulation applies to activities related to waste recycling, treatment, and supervision and management within the administrative region of this province.

Article 3 [Work Requirements] Waste recycling and treatment work shall adhere to the requirements of systematic planning and coordinated promotion, classified policies and precise efforts, innovation-driven development and quality and efficiency improvement, and government guidance and market dominance.

Article 4 [Government Responsibilities] People's governments at or above the county level shall strengthen their leadership over the recycling and treatment of waste within their administrative regions, incorporate the recycling and treatment of waste into national economic and social development plans, formulate relevant policies and measures, and study and resolve major issues in the recycling and treatment of waste.

Article 5 [Departmental Responsibilities] The development and reform departments of people's governments at or above the county level shall be responsible for organizing, coordinating, supervising and managing the development of the circular economy within their respective administrative regions, and for coordinating and promoting the construction of a waste recycling system.

The ecological and environmental protection departments of people's governments at or above the county level are responsible for supervising and managing the prevention and control of environmental pollution in waste recycling and treatment activities.

The economic and information technology departments of people's governments at or above the county level shall be responsible for supervising and managing the recycling and treatment of industrial waste in accordance with the law.

The agricultural and rural affairs departments of people's governments at or above the county level are responsible for supervising and managing the recycling and treatment of agricultural waste.

The housing and urban-rural development and environmental sanitation departments of people's governments at or above the county level are responsible for supervising and managing the recycling and disposal of construction waste and domestic waste.

The commerce departments of people's governments at or above the county level are responsible for supervising and managing the recycling of renewable resources generated during social production and consumption.

The education, science and technology, public security, finance, natural resources, transportation, health, emergency management, market supervision and administration, statistics, and financial management departments of people's governments at or above the county level, as well as relevant units, shall, within their respective responsibilities, perform relevant work on the recycling and disposal of waste.

Article 6 [Statistical Survey System] Relevant departments of people's governments at or above the county level shall, in accordance with the national circular economy statistical system, strengthen the statistics, surveys, and analysis of relevant statistical information on the generation, comprehensive utilization, and treatment of waste.

Article 7 [Industry Self-Regulation] Industry associations related to waste recycling and treatment shall, in accordance with the provisions of laws, regulations and their articles of association, strengthen industry self-regulation, standardize industry behavior, safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of their members and the industry, and provide services such as education and training and information consulting.

Article 8 [Publicity and Education] People's governments at or above the county level and their relevant departments shall strengthen publicity and education on the recycling and treatment of waste.

The education administrative departments of people's governments at or above the county level shall guide schools to educate students on the knowledge of waste recycling and disposal.

Radio, television, newspapers, and online media are encouraged to strengthen public awareness campaigns on waste recycling and disposal by creating special programs and columns.

Chapter Two: Branch Construction

Article 9 [Network Construction Plan] People's governments at or above the county level may, as needed, formulate construction plans for waste recycling and treatment networks in accordance with overall territorial spatial planning, ecological environment protection planning, and other relevant regulations.

The development plan for the construction of waste recycling and treatment networks should take into account the specific circumstances of the region, such as its economic development level, population density, environment, and resources. The plan should include the layout of waste collection points, transfer stations, sorting centers, trading markets, and utilization and treatment sites and facilities.

Article 10 [Integration and Development of Outlets] People's governments at or above the county level shall scientifically and rationally plan the layout of waste material recycling outlets and trading markets, coordinate the integration and development of household waste sorting outlets and waste material recycling outlets, and improve the urban and rural waste material recycling network.

Encourage the sharing and use of waste recycling and treatment facilities across administrative regions.

Article 11 [Construction of Recycling Facilities] Support is provided for residential communities, shopping malls, and other similar establishments to construct waste recycling stations or reserve sites for recycling facilities in accordance with relevant national standards. Support is also provided for the coordinated establishment of waste recycling stations or facilities in rural areas.

We encourage the establishment of waste recycling stations or facilities in industrial parks, trade markets, office buildings, docks, tourist attractions, express delivery stations, and other similar locations.

Article 12 [Construction of Sorting Centers] People's governments at or above the county level and their relevant departments shall, in light of local conditions, coordinate the standardized construction of waste sorting centers, build new and upgrade green sorting centers according to local conditions, promote the construction of comprehensive sorting centers and specialized sorting centers in a categorized manner, and promote the effective recycling and utilization of waste.

Chapter Three: Recycling Operations

Article 13 [Requirements for Recycling Business Sites] The establishment of waste recycling business sites shall conform to the layout of waste recycling and treatment network points in this administrative region and meet the requirements of convenience for the public and maintenance of environmental sanitation.

Article 14 [Requirements for Recycling Operators] Waste recycling operators may conduct recycling business through methods such as door-to-door collection, online appointment collection, and setting up collection points; when engaging in waste collection, loading and unloading activities in residential communities, they shall not affect the normal lives of residents.

Waste recycling operators are encouraged to set up sorting and disposal equipment in residential communities, shopping malls, tourist attractions, express delivery stations and other places, and to adopt various incentive methods for recycling waste.

Article 15 [Mandatory Recycling System] Enterprises that produce, import, or sell products and packaging materials listed in the mandatory recycling catalogue shall recycle such products and packaging materials in accordance with national regulations. Enterprises shall be responsible for utilizing usable materials; those unsuitable for utilization due to lack of technical and economic conditions shall be disposed of harmlessly by the enterprises.

If a producer entrusts a seller or other organization to recycle the waste products or packaging materials specified in the preceding paragraph, or entrusts a waste utilization or disposal enterprise to utilize or dispose of them, the entrusted party shall be responsible for recycling, utilization, or disposal in accordance with the provisions of relevant laws and administrative regulations and the agreement of the contract.

Article 16 [Industrial Waste Recycling] Enterprises shall, in accordance with national and provincial regulations, recycle industrial waste generated during the production process, establish industrial waste management ledgers, and promote classified collection and storage. Enterprises are encouraged to innovate their industrial solid waste collection and transportation management models.

Article 17 [Recycling System for Waste Products of Industrial Production Enterprises] Enterprises producing electrical and electronic products, motor vehicles, lead-acid batteries, power batteries, and other products shall, in accordance with national regulations, establish a waste product recycling system commensurate with their product sales volume through self-construction or outsourcing, and disclose it to the public, fulfilling their responsibilities for recycling and utilization.

Article 18 [Agricultural Waste Recycling] People's governments at or above the county level and their agricultural and rural affairs departments shall establish and improve the agricultural waste recycling system, promote the construction of supporting facilities such as centralized collection of livestock and poultry manure and storage and utilization of biogas residue and biogas slurry according to local conditions; improve the straw collection, storage and transportation system, and guide large straw producers to collect and store straw on-site; and support relevant enterprises and farmers to strengthen the recycling of waste agricultural materials such as waste agricultural film, pesticide and fertilizer packaging, and agricultural machinery.

Producers, sellers, and users of agricultural inputs shall promptly recycle packaging waste and agricultural films from agricultural inputs such as pesticides and fertilizers. Pesticide producers and distributors may, in accordance with the law, negotiate and determine the specific methods for fulfilling their obligations to recycle pesticide packaging waste.

Units and individuals engaged in livestock and poultry breeding and slaughtering shall take effective measures to collect, store, and transport livestock and poultry manure, carcasses, and other livestock and poultry breeding waste in a timely manner.

Article 19 [Management of Construction Waste] This province implements a full-process manifest management system for construction waste.

The environmental sanitation departments of people's governments at or above the county level shall, in conjunction with relevant departments, establish a construction waste supervision and service system to regulate the generation, collection, storage, transportation, utilization, and disposal of construction waste, and achieve full-process monitoring and information-based traceability of construction waste.

Construction projects shall, in accordance with the law, adopt architectural design schemes, building materials and decoration materials, building components and equipment that are conducive to the protection of the ecological environment, and implement relevant green building standards and requirements in accordance with regulations to reduce the generation of construction waste.

We encourage the adoption of advanced technologies, processes, equipment, and management measures to promote the reduction of construction waste at its source.

Article 20 [Management of Household Waste Sorting] This province implements a household waste sorting system.

The environmental sanitation departments of the people's governments at the prefecture-level city level and above shall, based on local conditions, formulate construction and operation standards for facilities and sites for the cleaning, collection, storage, transportation and treatment of domestic waste, publish a guide to domestic waste classification, establish and improve a system of responsible persons for the management of domestic waste classification and disposal, clarify the determination of responsible persons for the management of domestic waste classification and disposal, their responsibilities and other contents, and strengthen supervision and management.

The relevant departments of the people's governments at or above the county level, such as environmental sanitation departments, shall, within their respective responsibilities, organize the cleaning, collection and transportation of urban and rural domestic waste, and may select qualified units to carry out the cleaning, collection and transportation of domestic waste through bidding or other means in accordance with the law.

Units and individuals that generate household waste shall, in accordance with the law, sort and dispose of household waste into the corresponding collection containers at designated locations, and promptly clean and collect the generated household waste in accordance with relevant national and provincial requirements, and assume the responsibility of household waste generators.

Article 21 [Intelligent Management of Waste Recycling] Support waste recycling enterprises to conduct information exchange with other relevant enterprises on the collection, storage, and transportation of waste materials, and promote effective connection between production and demand.

Support producers and operators in establishing industrial waste exchange information systems to publish supply and demand information on various types of waste and resource-based raw and auxiliary materials generated during production, circulation, and consumption, and promote the exchange of industrial waste information among enterprises.

We encourage the use of ecological and environmental rights trading platforms to conduct transactions involving solid waste and other materials. We also encourage waste recycling operators to utilize advanced information technologies such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and big data to build waste recycling business information platforms and recycling traceability systems.

Chapter Four: Utilization and Processing

Article 22 [Utilization and Treatment of Industrial Waste] The economic and information technology departments of people's governments at or above the county level shall, in conjunction with relevant departments, take effective measures to promote the efficient utilization of industrial waste.

Enterprises shall, in accordance with national and provincial regulations, comprehensively utilize industrial wastes such as fly ash, coal gangue, phosphogypsum, red mud, tailings, waste rock, waste materials, and waste gas generated during the production process.

Article 23 [Utilization and Treatment of Bulk Solid Waste] Support the comprehensive utilization of bulk solid waste, broaden the channels for comprehensive utilization, and, under the premise of meeting environmental quality standards and requirements, strengthen the promotion and application of comprehensive utilization products in the construction field, unblock the channels for utilization and disposal such as underground backfilling, ecological restoration, and roadbed materials, and promote the efficient extraction and clean utilization of valuable components in tailings and smelting slag.

Article 24 [Utilization and Treatment of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment, Retired New Energy Equipment, etc.] The dismantling, disposal, or reuse of specific products such as waste electrical and electronic products, scrapped motor vehicles, ships and aircraft, waste tires, waste lead-acid batteries, and waste power batteries shall comply with the provisions of relevant laws and regulations. It is prohibited to use outdated dismantling and processing technologies, processes, and equipment that are explicitly eliminated by the state or do not meet the requirements of ecological and environmental protection.

We encourage electrical and electronic enterprises, automobile manufacturers, battery manufacturers, and enterprises engaged in the recycling and dismantling of scrapped automobiles and scrapped electric bicycles, as well as enterprises engaged in comprehensive utilization, to establish a traceability management system covering the entire industrial chain and life cycle of waste electrical and electronic products and waste batteries.

Enterprises engaged in the construction and operation of wind power and photovoltaic power generation should, either independently or by entrusting qualified enterprises, recycle or dispose of retired wind turbine blades and photovoltaic modules in a harmless manner.

Article 25 [Development of the Remanufacturing Industry] Support enterprises in carrying out remanufacturing of products such as motor vehicle parts, construction machinery, machine tools, and cultural and office equipment, as well as tire retreading. Promote the development of the high-end equipment remanufacturing industry in fields such as wind power, photovoltaic power generation, and aviation. Promote the application of common key technologies for remanufacturing such as non-destructive testing, additive manufacturing, and flexible processing.

The quality of remanufactured and refurbished products shall meet the standards stipulated by the state, and shall be marked as remanufactured or refurbished products in a prominent position in accordance with the law.

The use of remanufactured products is encouraged. Provided that the obligation to inform consumers is fulfilled and their consent is obtained, the application of remanufactured automotive parts in after-sales repair and other fields is encouraged.

Article 26 [Utilization and Treatment of Agricultural Waste] The agricultural and rural affairs departments of people's governments at or above the county level shall strengthen the resource utilization of agricultural waste and the classified disposal of waste agricultural film, and promote the recycling and treatment of waste agricultural film and agricultural input packaging waste such as pesticides.

The agricultural and rural affairs departments of people's governments at or above the county level shall take measures to broaden the ways of comprehensive utilization of straw, and make comprehensive use of straw as fertilizer, feed, energy, industrial raw material, and edible fungi substrate, so as to improve the scientific and standardized level of straw return to the field.

Livestock and poultry farms and breeding communities should construct corresponding facilities for the separation of livestock and poultry manure, sewage, and rainwater, storage facilities for livestock and poultry manure and sewage, and comprehensive utilization and harmless treatment facilities for anaerobic digestion and composting of manure and sewage, organic fertilizer processing, biogas production, separation and transportation of biogas residue and biogas slurry, sewage treatment, and disposal of livestock and poultry carcasses, based on their breeding scale and pollution prevention needs. Those who have already entrusted others to comprehensively utilize and harmlessly treat livestock and poultry breeding waste are not required to construct their own comprehensive utilization and harmless treatment facilities. Qualified professional institutions and socialized service organizations are encouraged to participate in the harmless treatment and resource utilization of livestock and poultry breeding waste.

Agricultural producers and related enterprises are encouraged and supported to adopt advanced and applicable technologies for the comprehensive utilization of by-products from agricultural product processing, waste agricultural film, crop straw, and livestock manure. The construction of regional agricultural waste comprehensive utilization and treatment centers is also encouraged.

Article 27 [Utilization and Disposal of Construction Waste] Construction units shall promptly remove construction waste and other solid waste generated during the construction process and utilize or dispose of them in accordance with the regulations of the environmental sanitation authorities.

The adoption of new technologies and processes for the comprehensive utilization of construction waste is encouraged. Products made from the comprehensive utilization of construction waste should comply with national and industry standards.

People's governments at the county level and above should promote the application of products made from the comprehensive utilization of construction waste. They should encourage the use of such products in all types of engineering projects, ensuring they meet engineering quality standards.

Article 28 [Utilization and Treatment of Domestic Waste] The environmental sanitation departments of people's governments at or above the county level shall organize the resource-based and harmless treatment of urban and rural domestic waste, and shall treat domestic waste that has been sorted and disposed of in accordance with regulations.

Materials recovered from household waste shall be used in accordance with the purposes and standards stipulated by the state, and shall not be used to produce products that may endanger human health.

Units that generate or collect kitchen waste, and other producers and operators, shall hand over the kitchen waste to qualified units for harmless treatment. Livestock and poultry farms are prohibited from feeding livestock and poultry with kitchen waste that has not undergone harmless treatment.

Hazardous waste that is sorted from household waste and collected in a centralized manner, and is classified as hazardous waste, shall be managed as hazardous waste.

Article 29 [Utilization and Treatment of Hazardous Waste] Units that generate hazardous waste shall store, utilize, and dispose of hazardous waste in accordance with national regulations and ecological environmental protection standards.

No unit or individual may dump, pile up, discard, scatter, or burn hazardous waste without authorization.

Article 30 [Utilization of Renewable Resources] People's governments at or above the county level shall take measures to strengthen the efficient utilization of renewable resources, enhance the standardized management of the comprehensive utilization of renewable resources industry, support the greening, mechanization, and intelligent upgrading of existing renewable resource processing and utilization projects, and improve the level of renewable resource recycling. The reasonable extension of the renewable resource deep processing industrial chain is encouraged to increase product added value.

Article 31 [Secondhand Goods Transactions] People's governments at or above the county level and their relevant departments shall support and promote the construction of secondhand goods trading markets and platforms. Market supervision and administration departments, commerce departments, and other relevant departments shall, within their respective responsibilities, strengthen the supervision and management of secondhand goods transactions.

Support the development of new business models such as "Internet + second-hand goods" and second-hand goods leasing and repurchase in the second-hand goods trading market.

We encourage the establishment of second-hand shops and consignment stores to make use of idle items; we also encourage communities to hold activities such as "flea markets" to integrate into the construction of convenient living circles within 15 minutes and promote the circulation of idle items among neighbors.

Chapter Five: Safeguards and Supervision

Article 32 [Funding and Project Support] The finance departments of people's governments at or above the county level shall include the operating expenses for waste recycling and treatment in their fiscal budgets.

The development and reform departments of people's governments at or above the county level should make full use of existing funding channels to strengthen support for the construction of waste recycling projects.

Support county-level and above governments in including the recycling of low-value recyclables in the scope of government procurement of services. Explore the use of franchising and other methods to carry out the recycling of low-value recyclables.

Article 33 [Tax and Financial Policy Support] People's governments at or above the county level and their relevant departments shall strengthen financial support for ecological and environmental protection, continuously promote the standardized and healthy development of green financial products and services such as green credit, green bonds, green insurance, and green trusts, and support the development of the waste recycling and treatment industry.

Government-backed financing guarantee institutions are encouraged to provide financing guarantees to eligible small and medium-sized enterprises engaged in waste recycling and treatment, in accordance with regulations.

Those who legally utilize waste or produce products from recycled raw materials from waste shall enjoy tax and other preferential policies in accordance with national regulations. Tax incentives supporting the development of the waste recycling and treatment industry shall be implemented in accordance with the law.

Article 34 [Land Use Guarantee] The natural resources departments of people's governments at or above the county level shall, in accordance with the overall territorial spatial plan, make overall arrangements to guarantee land use for the construction of waste recycling and treatment facilities. The construction of recycling facilities for the classified collection, transfer, and storage of waste from social sources shall be included in the scope of public infrastructure land use to ensure reasonable land use needs.

Article 35 [Scientific and Technological Innovation] The provincial people's government's science and technology, development and reform, economy and information technology departments shall include the tackling of major common key technologies, research and development of key process technologies and equipment, application demonstration and industrialization of waste recycling and treatment in the scope of support for the provincial science and technology innovation plan, strategic emerging industry development plan and related key special projects.

Support universities, research institutes and enterprises to carry out industry-university-research cooperation, organize the promotion, exchange and training of waste recycling and treatment technologies, and promote the industrial application of technological achievements.

Article 36 [Industrial Development and Enterprise Cultivation] People's governments at or above the county level and their relevant departments shall, based on the development of the waste recycling and treatment industry, cultivate enterprises in the fields of waste recycling, second-hand goods trading, sorting and utilization, and remanufacturing, strengthen the waste recycling industry chain, and promote the healthy development of the waste recycling and treatment industry.

Support the circular transformation of industrial parks, promote the construction of eco-industrial parks, and facilitate the overall optimization of the park's energy system and the intensive, economical, and circular use of resources.

Article 37 [Promotion of Recycled Products] The government shall implement the green procurement system, and eligible waste recycling materials, products, equipment and facilities shall be included in the scope of government green procurement in accordance with relevant regulations and shall be given priority in procurement in accordance with the law.

Enterprises are encouraged to increase the proportion of recycled materials used in their production and operations. The use of recycled products is also encouraged.

Article 38 [Demonstration and Guidance by Public Institutions] People's governments at or above the county level shall promote the construction of a system for the recycling and treatment of waste from public institutions, improve the system for the recycling and treatment of waste from public institutions, promote the work of household waste classification and plastic pollution control, and give full play to the exemplary and leading role of public institutions.

Article 39 [Complaints, Reports and Handling] Any unit or individual has the right to complain or report on illegal activities in waste recycling and disposal; the department or unit receiving the complaint or report shall handle it in accordance with the law.

Chapter Six Legal Liability

Article 40 [Connecting Clause] Where there are provisions in laws and regulations for violations of this Regulation, those provisions shall prevail.

Article 41 [Legal Liability of State Organs and Their Staff] If state organs and their staff violate relevant laws and regulations and the provisions of this Regulation by abusing their power, neglecting their duties, or engaging in malpractice for personal gain in the work of waste recycling and disposal, their competent authorities or supervisory organs shall impose disciplinary sanctions on the directly responsible supervisors and other directly responsible personnel in accordance with the law; if a crime is constituted, criminal liability shall be pursued in accordance with the law.

Chapter Seven Supplementary Provisions

Article 42 [Effective Date] This Regulation shall come into force on [date].