The “14th Five-Year” Plan for Circular Economy Development will be formulated this year, according to a briefing held by the State Council on January 13. The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) will lead the formulation of this plan, which will focus on key measures for recycling traditional renewable resources, precious metals, and solid waste from the “new three items” (waste power batteries, waste photovoltaic components, and wind turbine blades).
Solid waste is not without value; rather, it is a precious resource that is simply misplaced, possessing significant resource attributes. Zhou Haibing, deputy director of the NDRC, explained that materials such as smelting slag are rich in precious metals. Tailings, waste rock, and construction debris can replace natural sand and gravel resources for producing building materials. Household waste can also be refined through sorting to recover metals, plastics, paper, and other recyclable resources. “By developing a circular economy and tapping into the resource properties of solid waste, we can turn waste into treasure and harm into benefit. This will not only enhance the effectiveness of comprehensive solid waste management but also strengthen the security of resource supply,” he stated.
To achieve this, the recently released Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Action Plan sets specific requirements for reducing waste at the source, process control, and resource utilization. It aims to promote sustainable business models, leverage market forces to advance circular economy development, and support more effective comprehensive solid waste management.
Zhou Haibing mentioned that the next steps will involve improving relevant supporting systems. This includes promoting the codification of the ecological environment law, revising regulations related to the recycling and treatment of discarded electronic appliances, hazardous waste management, and construction waste. Additionally, a comprehensive management approach for new energy vehicle power batteries will be introduced, and the guidelines for industrial structure adjustment will be revised to strengthen restrictions on outdated processes and equipment.
In 2026, the NDRC will also lead the formulation of the “14th Five-Year” Plan for Circular Economy Development. This plan will outline the goals and tasks for circular economy development in key areas and deploy major recycling initiatives for traditional renewable resources, precious metals, and solid waste from the “new three items.” It will enhance the support system, improve resource utilization efficiency, and strengthen resource security to facilitate a green and low-carbon transition, thus promoting high-quality development of the circular economy.
According to officials from the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, by 2030, approximately 1.5 to 2 million tons of waste photovoltaic components, 500,000 tons of waste wind turbine blades, and 1 million tons of waste power batteries are expected to be generated. In recent years, the recycling capabilities for the “new three items” have improved significantly. Reports indicate that recovery capabilities for waste photovoltaic components and waste wind turbine blades are about 2 million tons and 1 million tons, respectively. Furthermore, 148 enterprises specializing in the comprehensive utilization of waste power batteries, meeting the industry standards, have a total recycling and disposal capacity of 2.5 million tons.
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