For the purpose of international data collection, this project tracked the follow-up changes in the management measures of China’s waste import ban, as well as how the European Union, Japan, South Korea and Southeast Asian countries managed waste and how these countries responded to this condition. Considering that Taiwan’s management of import and export of waste has kept step with the world trends, it is suggested that the current management in Taiwan should remain unchanged. However, it is still important to continually follow how other countries act on issues such as the connection between the volume permitted to be imported/ exported and Customs codes so that relevant regulations can be adjusted as trends proceed. This project also analyzed the import situation of waste paper and waste plastics after amendments became effective. The total import volume of waste paper and waste plastics both declined after the import requirements were amended. And after the amendments, most of the importers are legal factories. Also, more and more newly-established plastic factories begin to import waste plastics. The effects produced by the amendments are observable. Three suggestions for improving the utilizing patterns of the imported wastes required as raw materials are provided after considering the data collected from international community, on-site visits of domestic importers and practical operation: (1) the management should remain status quo with adding new corresponding C.C.C. Codes to track import manifests; (2) risk classification management; (3) those that are inappropriate or cause environmental pollution will revert to permit management. Adjustments will be made upon different operation conditions. Due to the impacts of COVID-19, the twelfth meeting of the Open-ended Working Group of the Basel Convention (OEWG-12) was held online from September 1 to 3, 2020. This project has fulfilled the requirement to participate in the online meetings. Suggestions have been provided upon analysis. Both ISRI of the United States and Japan modify their recycling standards in response to the effectiveness of the upcoming plastic waste amendments. Upon the proposal by the Basel Convention, the World Customs Organization has adopted new heading 85.49 in respect of electrical and electronic waste. Also, Thailand banned the import of 428 types of electronic waste. Taiwan’s prohibition on the import of hazardous industrial waste has corresponded well to the world management trends; therefore, it is suggested to review the consistency between C.C.C. Code and H.S Code, and close attention should be paid to how electronic waste will be regulated in the future. As for the maintenance of the website, Taiwan’s Action on the Basel Convention, FAQ section has been updated. Cybersecurity was checked on a monthly basis. The reference manual for judgement of waste and import control (waste thermoplastics and waste paper) was completed in English and is now available on the website. This project also helped review 34 applications from exporters for permission to export hazardous industrial waste.

Basel Convention, Industrial Waste Import and Export Management, Industrial Raw Material