Large Virtual Transboundary Hazardous Waste Flows: The Case of China

The Basel Convention and prior studies mainly focusedon the physicaltransboundary movements of hazardous waste (transporting waste fromone region to another for cheaper disposal). Here, we take China,the world's largest waste producer, as an example and revealthe virtual hazardous waste flows in trade (outsourcing waste by importingwaste-intensive products) by developing a multiregional input-outputmodel. Our model characterizes the impact of international trade betweenChina and 140 economies and China's interprovincial trade onhazardous waste generated by 161,599 Chinese enterprises. We findthat, in 2015, virtual hazardous waste flows in China's tradereached 26.6 million tons (67% of the national total), of which 31%were generated during the production of goods that were ultimatelyconsumed abroad. Trade-related production is much dirtier than locallyconsumed production, generating 26% more hazardous waste per unitof GDP. Under the impact of virtual flows, 40% of the waste-intensiveproduction and relevant disposal duty is unequally concentrated inthree Chinese provinces (including two least-developed ones, Qinghaiand Xinjiang). Our findings imply the importance of expanding thescope of transboundary waste regulations and provide a quantitativebasis for introducing consumer responsibilities. This may help relievewaste management burdens in less-developed waste havens. Research mainly focuses on direct transboundarymovementsof hazardous waste between regions. This study reveals virtual hazardouswaste flows that can exceed physical transboundary waste movement.

Automated summary

This study focuses on China and reveals the virtual hazardous waste flows in trade by developing a multiregional input-output model. It finds that in 2015, 31% of China's virtual hazardous waste flows were generated during the production of goods for export, and trade-related production generates 26% more hazardous waste per unit of GDP compared to locally consumed production. The findings imply the importance of expanding transboundary waste regulations and introducing consumer responsibilities.