Smuggled plastic industry health risk
By Wang Qingchu |
December 24, 2011, Saturday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
UNLICENSED factories in an east China village have been exposed making plastic out of waste smuggled from abroad, causing serious pollution.
Operations in underground factories in Xiaogou Village, Jiangsu Province, are exposing residents to a host of health risks, including cancer, China Central Television reported.
An investigation by the TV station found plastic trash illegally imported from overseas being processed into granules, the raw material for various plastic goods.
The granules were later sold to domestic manufacturers across China, which made them into bags, toys and even food containers.
In one factory visited, plastic rubbish - including bags and bottles with Korean and English labelling - was scattered around, reporters found.
Workers would sort the trash, wash it and then submerge it in an alkaline solution, CCTV reported.
Once dry, the plastic waste was melted and processed before being cooled and cut up.
The owner of one factory told CCTV that the plastic garbage was imported to a number of Chinese ports.
Factories bought the garbage at 2,000 yuan (US$316) to 3,000 yuan a ton, while processed plastic granules could sell for 8,000 yuan per ton.
The lucrative business has made garbage processing a major industry in the village.
However, thick fumes and odors from the burning plastic also surrounded the area, investigators found.
Smoke from burning plastics contains toxic particles which can cause rashes, respiratory diseases, memory loss and even cancer.
The water supply is also contaminated by waste.
Local authorities said all illegal factories were shut down after they launched a crackdown in November.
However, dozens of workshops were still in operation this month, CCTV said.
Under a 2009 regulation, 54 categories of waste are allowed into China - such as paper and scrap iron or steel. Some 84 kinds of waste are banned, including garments and plastic bags and electronics.
Figures from the General Administration of Customs show customs nationwide seized more than 20,000 tons of banned waste between 2007 and 2009.
Operations in underground factories in Xiaogou Village, Jiangsu Province, are exposing residents to a host of health risks, including cancer, China Central Television reported.
An investigation by the TV station found plastic trash illegally imported from overseas being processed into granules, the raw material for various plastic goods.
The granules were later sold to domestic manufacturers across China, which made them into bags, toys and even food containers.
In one factory visited, plastic rubbish - including bags and bottles with Korean and English labelling - was scattered around, reporters found.
Workers would sort the trash, wash it and then submerge it in an alkaline solution, CCTV reported.
Once dry, the plastic waste was melted and processed before being cooled and cut up.
The owner of one factory told CCTV that the plastic garbage was imported to a number of Chinese ports.
Factories bought the garbage at 2,000 yuan (US$316) to 3,000 yuan a ton, while processed plastic granules could sell for 8,000 yuan per ton.
The lucrative business has made garbage processing a major industry in the village.
However, thick fumes and odors from the burning plastic also surrounded the area, investigators found.
Smoke from burning plastics contains toxic particles which can cause rashes, respiratory diseases, memory loss and even cancer.
The water supply is also contaminated by waste.
Local authorities said all illegal factories were shut down after they launched a crackdown in November.
However, dozens of workshops were still in operation this month, CCTV said.
Under a 2009 regulation, 54 categories of waste are allowed into China - such as paper and scrap iron or steel. Some 84 kinds of waste are banned, including garments and plastic bags and electronics.
Figures from the General Administration of Customs show customs nationwide seized more than 20,000 tons of banned waste between 2007 and 2009.
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