China Publishes New Standards for Copper and Aluminum Scrap Metal

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster):  The Chinese State Administration for Market Regulation published new standards for high-grade aluminium and copper scrap. The new standard will take effect from July 1, 2020. The new standards are part of Chinese efforts to bolster crackdown on solid waste imports into the country.

As per new standards, the minimum copper content for types of scrap including bare bright copper wire ranges from 99.9% to as low as 94% for No.3 copper scrap nodules. Further, it allows imports of all other ISRI grades with lower copper contents and contaminations based on the full table. The new specifications sets the minimum aluminium and aluminium alloy content for recycled aluminium ingots at 99%, those for aluminium castings at 98% and for aluminium blocks at 91%.

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Reacting to the newly announced specifications, a China-based copper scrap importer and an industry official noted that they are very strict. Meantime, an aluminium scrap importer observed that the standards are nor severe as feared, but it needs to be seen how Chinese customs are going to implement them.

The scrap metal that meets the new standards will be treated as resource, rather than waste. Incidentally, China seeks to reduce solid waste imports into the country to zero by the end of this year.