On January 4, 2024, China's Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) issued the Notice on Soliciting Public Opinions on Revised National Hazardous Waste List (Draft for Comments) in accordance with the Environmental Protection Law of the People's Republic of China and the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Prevention and Control of Environmental Pollution Caused by Solid Wastes. All entities, organizations, enterprises, and individuals are welcomed to put forward their opinions and suggestions. Public comments can be submitted before February 4, 2024.
What are the changes in this revision?
- The provision of Article 6: Chemicals identified with hazard characteristics will be classified as hazardous wastes and shall be categorized based on the existing classification criteria. If chemicals cannot be categorized based on the existing classification criteria, then chemicals shall be managed and classified as "900-000-xx".
- Explanations are made on waste category and its code: HW02 (pharmaceutical wastes), HW03 (waste pharmaceuticals, drugs and medicines), HW12 (waste dyes and paints), HW40 (ethers wastes), and HW45 (organohalogen compounds);
- 4 hazardous wastes are added: their hazardous numbers are 321-035-48; 321-036-48; 321-037-48 and 321-038-48;
- 2 hazardous wastes are deleted: their hazardous numbers are 261-100-11 and 336-100-21;
- Descriptions on 18 types of hazardous wastes are revised, mainly focusing on the identification, terminology, and scope of hazardous wastes.
- Based on previous feedbacks, the exemption condition for oily metal scraps (No. 9) and chromium-containing leather waste scraps (No. 16) have been revised.
