The Issue of Industrial Waste in the Suburbs of Beijing and the Government's Response - 2021

The Issue of Industrial Waste in the Suburbs of Beijing and the Government's Response - 2021

In the 2020s, the issue of industrial waste in the suburbs of Beijing remains serious. Cities surrounding Beijing, such as Tangshan and Langfang in Hebei Province, are industrial hubs, and frequent reports of illegal dumping of industrial waste from steel and chemical industries have been made. Large companies such as Tangshan Iron and Steel Group and Hebei Iron and Steel Group operate in these areas, and improper waste management has been pointed out.

In particular, in 2021, about 1,500 tons of toxic waste were illegally dumped in Langfang. The waste contained heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, and arsenic, which severely affected the soil and water quality. This incident posed a direct threat to local farmland and drinking water, significantly endangering the environment and residents' health.

Additionally, in the area surrounding Beijing, plastic waste and electronic waste (E-waste) have not been properly disposed of. In 2022, the Northern China Electronics Recycling Association was fined for illegally dumping over 300 tons of electronic waste.

In response to these issues, the Chinese government enacted the "Solid Waste Pollution Prevention Law" in 2021, imposing strict fines on companies that engage in illegal dumping. Under this law, companies can be fined up to 5 million yuan (approximately 7.5 million yen), and the obligation to restore the environment has been strengthened. In Beijing, the management of waste imports and processing has also been tightened, with strict monitoring of illegal waste trading.

Thus, in the 2020s, the industrial waste issue in the suburbs of Beijing continues to have a major impact on the local community, and cooperation between the Chinese government and local companies is urgently needed to improve the situation.