China’s MEP continues inspections, license suspensions

China’s Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) has begun posting to its website the names of recycling companies and manufacturers that have been found to fail inspections pertaining to how they handle imported scrap materials.

In the overall month-long inspection effort, as of July 22, 2017, MEP says “a total of 1,556 enterprises were examined [and] 954 companies cited for proposed punishment, accounting for 61 percent of the total number of enterprises.”

The update posted to the MEP’s website July 24, 2017, states that most recently, “Sixty inspection teams [were sent] to check a total of 77 enterprises and found 43 enterprises suspected of environmental violations.” The inspection teams also have “put forward the proposed handling of punishment” in those cases, the MEP says.

Each of those 43 companies found in violation is then listed by the MEP, in a rundown that includes the company’s name, location and violations cited by the inspection team. Some violations involve machinery allegedly installed without proper licensing, while others are as minor as missing signage.

Examples from the last two detailed MEP reports posted include:

• Tianjin Rong Chengxiang Minerals Co. Ltd., in the northern China city of Tianjin, found to have machinery including sintering machines and a pellet production line that “does not match” the government’s records;
• Tianjin Aotong Metal Products Co. Ltd., in the same city, cited for construction projects not approved by local regulators as well as furnace dust collection that is “not standardized” and with “imperfect measures;”
• Suning County Yintong Zhisu Separation Processing Co. Ltd. in Hebei Province, found to have plastic washing lines and paper and plastic separation technology that “does not match” its licensing records;
• Ji’an Group Co. Ltd. in Jiaxing City, engaged in “unauthorized construction of the annual recycling of 5,800 tons of deinking sludge,” according to the MEP;
• Shandong Stora Enso Huatai Paper Co. Ltd. in the city of Dongying, for a “hazardous waste temporary storage office [that] does not include the hazardous waste identification mark;”
• Shandong Huatai Paper Co. Ltd., also in Dongying, also for “hazardous waste without a hazardous waste identification mark” and for “waste circuit board and other solid waste mixed storage;” and
• Qingyuan City Yucheng Ante Plastic Trading Co. Ltd. in South China’s Qingyuan City, for not having approval for a granulation production line and for having a “PVC compounding production line that does not have supporting contaminant pollution control facilities.”

Recyclers who wish to remain anonymous say they are experiencing or know of other companies that are experiencing postinspection penalties that include scrap import restrictions or suspensions lasting either six months or one full year.