On February 6, 2024, the General Office of the State Council in China issued the "Opinions on Accelerating the Construction of a Waste Recycling System" (Guobanfa [2024] No. 7).

The opinions mentioned that by 2025, a waste recycling system covering all fields and links will be initially established, and positive progress will be made in the recycling of major wastes. The annual utilization of bulk solid waste such as tailings, fly ash, coal gangue, smelting slag, industrial by-product gypsum, construction waste, and straw has reached 4 billion tons, and the comprehensive utilization rate of new bulk solid waste has reached 60%. The annual utilization of major renewable resources such as scrap steel, scrap copper, scrap aluminum, scrap lead, scrap zinc, waste paper, waste plastic, waste rubber, and waste glass reaches 450 million tons. The annual output value of the resource recycling industry reaches 5 trillion yuan.

By 2030, a comprehensive, efficient, standardized and orderly waste recycling system will be established. The value of various waste resources will be fully exploited. The proportion of recycled materials in the supply of raw materials will further increase. The scale and quality of the resource recycling industry will be improved. Significant improvement, the overall level of waste recycling ranks among the top in the world.

China will strengthen the fine management of industrial waste, consolidate the main responsibilities of waste generating units, and improve the general industrial solid waste management ledger system. Promote the classified collection and storage of industrial solid waste, prevent mixed piles and discharge, and reserve conditions for resource recycling. Comprehensively investigate the solid waste storage sites left over from history and implement graded and classified rectification. Encourage waste generation units and waste utilization units to carry out point-to-point targeted cooperation.

At the same time, it is necessary to explore new waste recycling paths, promote the recycling of decommissioned wind power and photovoltaic equipment, and establish and improve the responsibility mechanism for the disposal of decommissioned equipment of wind power and photovoltaic power generation enterprises. China will study and revise the Catalog for the Disposal of Waste Electrical and Electronic Products, strengthen the management of new electrical and electronic waste, and improve supporting environmental management policies such as qualification licensing for the disposal of waste electrical and electronic products.

In addition, the standard system for recycled materials must be improved. Research and establish a certification system for recycled materials and promote international cooperation and mutual recognition. Conduct research on carbon footprint accounting standards and methods for key recycled materials. Establish government green procurement demand standards and include more qualified recycled materials and products into the scope of government green procurement.