In a bold move to protect the environment 🌱, customs officials in northern China's Tianjin Municipality recently seized a whopping 20.47 tonnes of illegal foreign waste hidden in a container declared as \"empty\" 🚫. Talk about a not-so-empty surprise! 😲
The confiscated trash was identified as scraps from the production of latex products 🧤. Sneaky businesses tried to sneak this waste into the country, but authorities weren't having it. They're now investigating the illegal importation to get to the bottom of this murky mess 🕵️♂️.
Did you know that back in the 1980s, China began importing solid waste as raw materials? For years, it was the world's largest importer 🌏. But all that garbage posed serious risks to the environment and public health 😷. Companies looking to make a quick buck 💰 were bringing in trash illegally, causing pollution and health hazards.
But times are changing! On January 1, 2021, China put its foot down and banned all imports of solid waste 🚫🗑️. With more people becoming eco-conscious and customs stepping up their game, the amount of solid waste sneaking into the country has dropped big time 📉.
This latest bust is a reminder that protecting the planet is a team effort 🌍❤️. Go, Tianjin Customs! Let's keep the earth clean and green for future generations 🌿✨.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
