‘Green Fence’ to extend into late November

China – China’s ‘Operation Green Fence’, initiated in February this year to monitor more closely the quality and integrity of secondary materials received from Europe and North America in particular, will run until November 25, it has been announced.

Latest feedback suggests that, in a five-month period, 337 cases of illegal smuggling of solid waste were identified by customs around China, with a total value of Euro 200 million (US$ 272 million). Of these, 255 cases with a value of Euro 190 million (US$ 258 million) concerned scrap metals, plastics and paper. China’s anti-smuggling authorities have investigated and verified 55 cases involving more than 800 000 tonnes of imported waste of different kinds.

The BIR world recycling body and the US Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries have already informed their members about the duration of ‘Operation Green Fence’.