China Releases Plan for Solid Waste Pollution Control for 2026-2030

Six Chinese government departments, including the Ministry of Ecology and Environment and the National Development and Reform Commission, have jointly issued a plan to strengthen the prevention and control of solid waste pollution during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030).

By 2030, China aims to achieve significant progress in tackling solid waste pollution in key areas, effectively control the accumulation of legacy waste, curb the spread of illegal dumping and disposal, and substantially enhance its comprehensive management capacity. The country also targets the establishment of an integrated digital supervision network covering key regions and the realisation of ‘zero-waste cities’ by the end of the decade.

The plan calls for coordinated efforts to address pressing issues and strengthen systematic governance, focusing on identifying and mitigating environmental risks across the entire solid waste management chain. It outlines targeted measures for dealing with illegally dumped solid waste, waste discarded in karst caves, phosphogypsum storage sites, and urban solid waste landfills, as well as hazardous waste landfills. Furthermore, the plan sets out specific requirements for managing industrial and hazardous waste, discarded electrical and electronic products, end-of-life new energy equipment, and solid waste generated by households, construction, and agricultural activities.