Chinese customs sends back 10,500 tons of illegally-imported waste

Shijiazhuang customs in north China's Hebei Province said it sent back 10,500 tonnes of illegally imported solid waste from Caofeidian Port in Tangshan City Sunday.

The shipment was declared as iron ore, but customs officials said it was actually a mixture of various solid wastes prohibited from import under Chinese law.

Importers must have the goods examined by qualified inspection agencies before the shipment, the officials said.

The Shijiazhuang customs has rejected more than 35,300 tonnes of illegally-imported solid waste this year.