I. The New Definition of "Recyclable Resources" Under the Ban on Solid Waste Imports

Do you remember the "foreign garbage" ban storm in 2018? At that time, our foreign trade circle was all discussing "the rice bowl is about to be smashed." But policies are never about killing everything with one stroke; instead, they guide industrial upgrading. According to the latest regulations,Guide to Importing Recycled Metal Raw Materials: The Right Way to Avoid the Solid Waste MinefieldIt refers to those items or materials that have lost their original value or been discarded, but after undergoing a "cosmetic surgery"—harmless treatment that meets national standards—they can obtain a "green card" as renewable resources.

Currently, the customs-recognized "top-grade" recycled raw materials include:

• III. Customs Three-Step Approach to Handling Solid Waste
• IV. The Cost Calculator for Violations: Fines or Jail Time?
• V. The Golden Rules for Compliant Imports
• VI. Real Cases of Industry Transformation

II. Confessions of a Customs Inspector: How We Spot "Counterfeit Goods"

As a seasoned customs officer who deals with declarations all year round, I've found that non-compliant companies are most fond of playing two tricks:

• solid wasterefers to items or substances that have lost their original value or been discarded. But after a cosmetic surgery—harmless treatment that complies with national standards—recycled resources can obtain a green card.
• Currently, the top students in recycled raw materials recognized by customs include:: Declaring waste plastic as "pulp substitutes" and disguising old cables as "iron tools"

Last year, a certain company declared the import of "non-refractory surfacing preparations," but upon opening the containers, they found industrial waste slag emitting a foul odor. This kind ofRecycled cast aluminum alloy raw materials (GB/T38472-2019)Recycled steel raw materials (GB/T39733-2020)

III. Customs' Three-Pronged Approach to Handling "Solid Waste"

As a veteran customs officer who deals with customs declarations daily, Ive found that non-compliant enterprises love to play two tricks:

1. The Beauty Filter Type: Dressing up solid waste as recycled raw materials, when in reality, the copper content is insufficient, or impurities exceed standards.
2. The Transformer Type: Declaring waste plastic as pulp substitutes or old cables disguised as iron tools.
3. Last year, a company declared imports of non-refractory coating preparations, but upon opening the containers, they found industrial waste emitting a strange odor. This kind ofcalling a deer a horse

operation is impossible to hide from our professional X-ray machines and laboratory testing.

On the stage of international trade, origin enterprise filing is like a companys international ID card. I remember when I first started in this industry, a client missed out on $500,000 in tariff preferences because they hadnt completed the filing. The look of anguish on their face is unforgettable.

A friend who works in scrap metal recycling once asked me, "At most, you'd just get fined if caught, right?" I did the math for him:

• Will certificate errors affect export tax rebates?Preliminary Diagnosis
• : On-site inspection + rapid testingExpert Consultation
• Credit punishment: List of Customs Dishonest Enterprises = Foreign Trade "Blacklist"

Targeted Treatment

According to customs data, in 2022, nationwide...

: Taking measures such as return, destruction, or release based on the conclusionSpecial reminder: According to the Solid Waste Law, goods that cannot be returned will be handed over to local governments for disposal, like lost children sent to orphanages when their parents cannot be found.Principle:

Three Dos:

• A friend in the scrap metal business once asked me, If caught, the worst is a fine, right? I did the math for him:
• : Fines ranging from 500,000 to 5 million yuan + goods return
• Criminal Penalties

Three Donts:

• Do not trust the "guaranteed clearance" gray services.
• Do not touch "borderline products" with unclear standards.
• Last year, a company in the Yangtze River Delta smuggled 2,000 tons of electronic waste, and the boss is still serving time. The cost is much higher than doing legitimate recycled metal business!

Recommend companies to establishAfter years of observation, Ive summarized theThree Dos and Three Donts

Guide to Importing Recycled Metal Raw Materials: The Right Way to Avoid the Solid Waste Minefield

A metal products factory in Guangdong used to import 200 containers of "recycled copper" per month, which were actually waste wires mixed with plastic coatings. After the policy tightened, they invested 3 million yuan to upgrade their sorting equipment. Now, they specialize in producing high-purity recycled copper ingots, and their profits have increased by 20%.

Do choose qualified overseas suppliersDo test raw material quality batch by batchDo retain complete original transaction documents

Dont trust guaranteed clearance gray services