China is a vast country and this is reflected in the scale of its production and consumption of household electrical appliances. Ownership of television sets now stands at around 350 million, washing machines are at 170 million and refrigerators at 130 million.

There is now an aging population of these appliances. Many date back to the consumer boom of the middle and late 1980s. One only has to think of a lifecycle of say 10 to 15 years in service to understand the projection of a new peak of upgrading due in 2003. It has been predicted that in this year alone, 5 million televisions, 5 million washing machines and 4 million refrigerators will be replaced. In addition, a large number of computers now face retirement due to obsolescence. Consequently, how to cope with the mountain of discarded electrical appliances has become really a hard nut to crack.

Old electrical appliances are quite unlike common urban garbage. These are complex artifacts and many contain toxic chemical substances. Inappropriate disposal methods such as land fill or incineration can pollute air, soil and water. In refrigerators for example both the refrigerant and the insulation are known to damage the ozone layer. The tubes in televisions and computer monitors alike are unstable while the fluorescent screens themselves are sources of mercury waste.

There is a bright side however because the glass, plastics, ferrous and nonferrous metals they also contain are all recyclable resources. In addition, some components do not deteriorate with time and could offer cost savings if only effective arrangements could be put in place for their reuse. The families owning the old appliances should be able to share in the cost benefits of recycling. Although upgrading of the household appliances will become necessary, consumer standards in Chinese families have not yet reached those of a throw-away' society and no one enjoys throwing out a once valued possession. Recycling is set to become an inevitable part of the process of disposal of used household appliances. Appropriate methods of disposal will not only save society from harm; there may even be fortunes to be made.

China has not yet set up its recycling mechanisms and indiscriminate disposal of old worn out household appliances poses a threat to the environment and to personal safety.

Current Practices in Disposal

Currently, retired' household appliances are dealt with in one of three ways. Some are sold on to lead an extended working life in rural or underdeveloped, urban areas. Some are just dumped as garbage. Some however are offered for re-use quite inappropriately by traders operating outside the law. They take advantage of the average consumer's lack of technical knowledge by passing off rough, makeshift repair jobs as professional reconditioning. They even repackage the goods before offering them on the secondhand market. They are just good enough to pass a try-out' at the point of sale but they won't work well for long.

Malpractice in the manufacture, reconditioning and sale of low quality household appliances has become widespread. Law enforcement agencies are making good progress in bringing the perpetrators to justice and the penalties are severe. However it has been hoped that Central Government might soon enact legislation to promote safe and environmentally friendly practices in the recycling of household appliances.

Many Chinese residents are loath to discard their old electrical appliances. They either keep using them or store them away in bedrooms or washrooms unaware of the hidden dangers. For example, as its components grow old and the picture and sound of the television set deteriorate, it is tempting to give it a right good slap; not really a safe and sound procedure for a delicate electrical appliance. The hidden dangers of old washing machines should also not be neglected. Aging plastic components can give rise to water leaks and maybe even a short circuit. Altogether it's a wise move to turn the old worn out appliance out of the home when its time has come.

Dumped household appliances are clearly a source of long-term pollution in the environment. At the same time, there are environmental problems with some current methods of recycling. For instance, some small enterprises reclaim precious metals like gold and platinum from dumped computers using outdated methods involving acid baths or burning. They produce significant quantities of noxious fumes, polluted wastewater, and slag. This type of recycling is actually responsible for polluting the environment.

Legislating for Best Practice in Disposal

The techniques used in the recycling of household appliances and associated legislation, are moving forward rapidly worldwide. Many developed countries have already promulgated laws to regulate the recycling of used electrical appliances.

The European Union set about enacting legislation to introduce regulations on the recycling of used electrical appliances as early as 1997. These required that recycling carried out in each of the member states should meet prescribed standards covering such areas as scale of operations, scientific testing, specialized disposal methods and safe reuse.

The United States of America has clear regulations for workers engaged in the recycling of refrigerant from used household appliances and for the equipment used in the recycling. In addition the USA has established recycling ratios' to promote the use of recycled materials.

Japan introduced a policy of charging for the recycling of bulky garbage' in 1992 and on 1 April 2001 its Law on the Recycling of Household Electrical Appliances' took effect. These measures seek to limit the volume of garbage to be processed. They also help create a society that is oriented towards recycling and is environmentally friendly.

China lags behind in this field. So far, there have been no specific laws or regulations to standardize recycling methods for household appliances. Similarly safe working life, means of disposal and the responsibilities of practitioners in the field are not currently legislated for. An early improvement in this situation would be welcome indeed.

The China Environment Post' has recently reported that the State Economic and Trade Commission of China (SETC) has formulated a working plan for improving methods of recycling for household electrical appliances.

Under the auspices of SETC, a coordination and legislation working group has been set up with a remit to bring forward proposals for legislation covering the management of the recycling of used household electrical appliances.

At the same time, an investigation is under way aimed at producing draft guidelines on limitations on safe length of life in service, methods employed in recycling and standards in the disposal of household electrical appliances.

The recycling of used household appliances has an important role to play in saving resources, reducing volumes of garbage and in environmental protection. It is also an important component of the economic cycle.

The central government will enact the appropriate laws and introduce the necessary regulations to control the management of the recycling of used household electrical appliances. These will set standards for recycling and lay down clear responsibilities for the relevant enterprises, marketing departments, consumers and government departments.

The central government's policies should facilitate the smooth operation of the processes of the recycling of household appliances. These policies should also mitigate in favor of recycling through financial incentives and tax breaks.

(China.org.cn translated by Zhang Tingting, July 23, 2002)