SHANGHAI, Aug 18 (Reuters) - China's imports of solid waste fell 54.4 percent in the first seven months of 2018 compared with the same period last year as Beijing stepped up enforcement of its ban on such imports, state news agency Xinhua said, citing data from the customs authority.
Imports of plastic, paper and metal waste totalled 11.83 million tonnes for January to July. In July alone, solid waste imports were 1.85 million tonnes, it said.
China started importing large volumes of recyclable waste 30 years ago, allowing ships delivering goods to Europe and the United States to fill up with trash before returning home.
But the government has sought to relinquish its role as the world's biggest recipient of waste as it bids to curb pollution and move up the global supply chain. So far it has banned imports of 24 types of solid waste. (Reporting by Brenda Goh Editing by Kenneth Maxwell)
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