The Ministry of Commerce, along with four other state departments, has recently issued the Medium and Long-Term Plan for the Development of Recycling Systems for Renewable Resources (2015-2020) (the "Plan").
The Plan puts on the agenda, by the year 2020, the development of a number of model cities each boasting recycling systems featuring well laid-out networks, well-regulated management, diverse ways of recycling and high recycling rates for key resources, as well as the cultivation of around 100 key enterprises with excellent performance in recycling renewable resources, with the total amount of recycled renewable resources expected to reach 220 million tonnes. The Plan specifies the establishment of different types of recycling systems based on the characteristics of the four types of renewable resources, i.e. renewable resources that come from everyday living, industrial processes, service and consumer processes, and public institutions. The Plan further encourages the investment of all types of domestic and foreign capital in the recovery, sorting, and processing of renewable resources and requires improvements to be made to the safety review system for the merger and acquisition of domestic businesses by foreign investors. The Plan also encourages leading enterprises to integrate small and medium-sized businesses and individual-run businesses through modern ways of operations such as chain or franchise operations.