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Rising waste paper imports trigger environmental concerns in China

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-01-18 11:19
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Waste paper imports through south China's Guangdong ports topped 10.33 million tons last year, up 13.3 percent over the 2008 level, local customs said Sunday.

However, some life garbage was found among the paper now and then, the customs said, cautioning against environmental problems.

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In December alone, waste paper imports through Guangdong went up 17.1 percent year-on-year to 859,000 tons, but down from the 1.02-million-ton annual peak last June.

The customs attributed the import growth to strong paper demand upon an economic recovery and a decline in paper pulp production in China.

More waste paper imports have exerted further pressure on China's environmental protection, Guangdong customs said, suggesting beefed-up monitoring and the establishment of a domestic waste paper recovery system to reduce reliance on imports.