Trash in high demand: How China is trying to solve its garbage shortage problem
The Asian giant is running out of waste for its incinerators, leading operators to dig up old garbage to keep them running.
For decades, China was the world’s primary destination for waste. Starting in the 1980s, the country imported massive volumes of scrap materials to convert them into raw inputs for its booming industrial sector. That model positioned China as the global hub for waste for many years. But the landscape has shifted dramatically, and the nation’s relationship with waste is entering a new phase.
A turning point in the late 2010s
As domestic urban waste surged, China faced a critical shortage of space, forcing the government to act. Authorities tightened environmental regulations, penalized companies that violated standards, and arrested hundreds linked to illegal imports. Beijing ultimately banned foreign waste shipments - a move that triggered a worldwide crisis in the recycling market.
China aggressively embraced incineration as a treatment method. The 12th Five-Year Plan had already set targets to expand this approach, and within a few years, the country multiplied its facilities to more than a thousand. Incineration capacity grew so rapidly that by 2022, China had already reached the daily processing volume originally projected for 2025 - handling roughly 80% of its domestic waste.
Scarcity sparks landfill excavation
Intense competition among incinerators has driven demand for waste so high that operators are now digging up old landfills to keep plants running. While this practice has become widespread, experts warn that excavated waste burns poorly unless mixed with fresh garbage.
This situation is widely seen as short-lived. Slower growth in urban waste and environmental constraints point to an impending crisis for the incineration model. Beyond its ecological impact, incineration was conceived as an emergency measure - not a sustainable long-term strategy. The ripple effects of this transition will extend far beyond China, reshaping the global balance in waste management.
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