Seven departments including the National Development and Reform Commission issued the “Action Plan for the Application and Promotion of Recycled Materials”

The Zhitong Finance App learned that on December 31, seven departments including the National Development and Reform Commission issued the “Action Plan for the Application and Promotion of Recycled Materials”, which requires that by 2030, the waste recycling system will be further improved, and that standards and certification systems such as promotion and application of recycled materials will be gradually established. The annual recycling volume of scrap steel and waste paper will exceed 300 million tons and 80 million tons, respectively, and that the annual output of recycled non-ferrous metals and recycled plastics will exceed 25 million tons and 19.5 million tons respectively, automobiles The proportion of alternative use of recycled materials in the fields of electrical and electronic products, textiles, packaging, etc., has been steadily increasing, and the application of recycled materials has further strengthened its role in ensuring resource safety and promoting energy saving and carbon reduction.

The original text is as follows:

Notice of the National Development and Reform Commission and other departments on issuing the “Action Plan for the Application and Promotion of Recycled Materials”

Development and Reform of Environmental Finance [2025] No. 1681

Provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the Central Government, development and reform commissions of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, departments in charge of industry and information technology, departments of finance (bureau), department of ecology and environment (bureau), department of commerce (bureau), market supervision bureau, Guangdong branch of the General Administration of Customs, and customs directly under its supervision:

In order to fully implement the spirit of the 20th National Congress and the 20th Plenary Session of the Party, earnestly implement the decisions and arrangements of the Party Central Committee and the State Council, strengthen the application and promotion of recycled materials, improve the waste recycling system, and promote the development of a circular economy, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the Ministry of Commerce, the General Administration of Customs, the General Administration of Market Supervision and other departments have formulated the “Action Plan for the Application and Promotion of Recycled Materials”. It is now being issued to you, so please implement it carefully.

National Development and Reform Commission

Ministry of Industry and Information Technology

Treasury

Ministry of Ecology and Environment

Ministry of Commerce

General Administration of Customs

General Administration of Market Regulation

December 23, 2025

Action plan for promoting the application of recycled materials

The application and promotion of recycled materials is an important means of improving the waste recycling system and vigorously developing a circular economy. It is of great significance in ensuring the safety of China's resources, enhancing the resilience of the industrial chain supply chain, and promoting carbon neutrality. In order to strengthen the application and promotion of recycled materials, this plan is formulated.

I. General Requirements

Guided by Xi Jinping's ideology of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era, comprehensively implement the spirit of the 20th National Congress and the 20th Plenary Session of the Party, thoroughly implement Xi Jinping's economic ideology and Xi Jinping's ecological civilization ideology, firmly establish a resource saving and intensive recycling concept, focus on recycled materials such as recycled steel, recycled non-ferrous metals, recycled plastics, recycled paper, etc., enhance the supply chain supply guarantee capacity, expand the scope of application of recycled materials, and improve the management system for the use of recycled materials, gradually increase the application ratio of recycled materials, accelerate the green and low-carbon transformation of key industries, ensure the safety of the industrial chain, and promote circulation Economic development has achieved greater results.

By 2030, the waste recycling system will be further improved, and standards and certification systems such as the promotion and application of recycled materials will gradually be established. The annual recycling volume of scrap steel and waste paper exceeds 300 million tons and 80 million tons respectively, and the annual output of recycled non-ferrous metals and recycled plastics has exceeded 25 million tons and 19.5 million tons respectively. The proportion of recycled materials replacement in automobiles, electrical and electronic products, textiles, packaging, etc. will steadily increase, and the role of recycled materials application in ensuring resource safety and promoting energy saving and carbon reduction will be further strengthened.

II. Improving the ability to guarantee the supply of recycled materials

(1) Enhance the ability to guarantee the supply of recycled steel. Encourage the construction of large-scale scrap processing and distribution centers in areas with concentrated electric furnace steel production capacity, promote the integrated development of scrap steel recycling, dismantling, processing and distribution, raise the level of classification and classification of scrap steel, and promote the efficient recycling of scrap steel resources. Steel companies that are in a position to do so are encouraged to transform the existing blast furnace-converter steelmaking process, develop all-scrap electric arc furnace short-process steelmaking in an orderly manner, strengthen the production and supply of high-quality recycled steel, and explore the establishment of a traceability system for the whole process from recycling and processing to production and smelting. (The National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology are responsible according to the division of responsibilities)

(2) Raise the level of supply of recycled non-ferrous metals. Support recycled non-ferrous metal processing and utilization enterprises to upgrade technical process equipment, establish specialized recycling and fine sorting and processing systems, and improve the ability to upgrade recycled non-ferrous metals. Strengthen research and development of technical equipment such as fine dismantling of key components and green and efficient separation and recycling of rare metals, and improve the ability to obtain renewable resources and the quality level of recycled non-ferrous metals. (The National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment are responsible according to the division of responsibilities)

(3) Improve the production capacity of high-quality recycled plastics. Establish and improve a classified and hierarchical supply system for recycled plastics, and accelerate the construction of a high-value recycling system for waste plastics. Support leading enterprises in the industry to actively develop the industrial application of waste plastic chemical recycling, and broaden the ways to recycle and utilize low-value plastic waste for high value. (The National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology are responsible according to the division of responsibilities)

(4) Strengthen the supply of other recycled materials such as recycled paper. Support the construction of waste paper sorting and processing centers, and strengthen the supply of waste paper in major categories such as box board paper, book paper, and newsprint. Encourage paper companies to adopt efficient relief technology, optimize the waste paper recycling process, and improve the quality of recycled paper. Support the construction of regional waste glass sorting and processing centers, encourage the use of optical sorting technology equipment and waste glass “dry cleaning” technology to improve the quality of recycled glass. Support enterprises to build waste textile processing and utilization centers, and establish classification and hierarchical utilization systems for chemical fibers, cotton, wool, cashmere, etc. (The National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and the Ministry of Commerce are responsible according to the division of responsibilities)

(5) Improve the waste recycling system. Further promote the classification, recycling and fine dismantling of end-of-life vehicles, waste electrical and electronic products, waste power batteries, waste mechanical and electrical products, waste wind power photovoltaic equipment, etc., improve the sorting accuracy of materials such as steel, non-ferrous metals, plastics, etc., and improve the separation and sorting capacity and level of mixed waste. Improve the recycling system for end-of-life vehicles and waste power batteries. Strengthen the construction of a system for sorting and recycling sources such as waste plastics, waste paper, waste glass, waste textiles, etc. Promote the revision of the “Administrative Measures on Renewable Resources Recycling”. (The National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and the Ministry of Commerce are responsible according to the division of responsibilities)

3. Increase the application of recycled materials in key products

(6) Promote the application of more recycled materials in automobile manufacturing. On the premise of meeting requirements such as hazardous substance control and material recyclability rate, automobile manufacturers are encouraged to focus on increasing the application ratio of recycled steel, recycled non-ferrous metals, recycled glass, etc. in parts such as frames, car bodies, glass, wheels, etc., and take the lead in large-scale application of recycled plastics in interior and exterior parts. Automobile manufacturers are encouraged to jointly establish a closed-loop supply system for recycled materials with enterprises that dismantle end-of-life vehicles, process recycled materials, and produce parts. (The National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and the Ministry of Commerce are responsible according to the division of responsibilities)

(7) Raise the level of application of recycled materials in electrical and electronic products. Support electrical and electronic product manufacturers to strengthen green design and supply chain management. On the premise of meeting hazardous substance control requirements, the focus is on increasing the application of recycled plastics, recycled copper, recycled aluminum, recycled paper, etc. in parts and product packaging, strengthening the use of recycled rare metals, and steadily increasing the application ratio of major recycled materials in electrical and electronic products. Encourage electrical and electronic product manufacturers to work with upstream and downstream enterprises in the industrial chain to establish recycling systems for recycled materials. (The National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and the Ministry of Commerce are responsible according to the division of responsibilities)

(8) Increase the application of recycled materials in battery production. Support power battery and energy storage battery manufacturers to speed up the establishment and improvement of waste battery recycling systems. The focus is on promoting lead-acid battery manufacturers to use a high proportion of recycled lead in battery positive and negative electrode production, and encouraging power battery and energy storage battery manufacturers to use recycled metal raw materials that meet application requirements. Encourage battery manufacturers to use recycled metals and plastics in battery case production while ensuring performance and safety. (Ministry of Industry and Information Technology is responsible)

(9) Encourage textile, packaging and other production enterprises to use recycled materials. Light textile enterprises are encouraged to use recycled fibers in products with good application and promotion conditions, and manufacturers of soundproof textile materials and insulation materials are encouraged to increase the use of recycled fibers in raw materials. Support typical non-food contact packaging and office paper manufacturers such as cartons, shrink film, packaging bags, foam filling materials, etc., to strengthen the green design of their products, increase the application ratio of recycled materials such as recycled paper and recycled plastics, and encourage enterprises that are in a position to do so to explore the use of all recycled materials as raw materials. (The National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology are responsible according to the division of responsibilities)

4. Improve the management system for the use of recycled materials

(10) Improve the certification system for the promotion and application of recycled materials standards. Improve the quality standard system for recycled materials such as recycled plastics, and strengthen product quality, human health, safety and environmental protection requirements for recycled materials. Strengthen the preparation of measurement technology specifications in key areas of recycled materials. Research and formulate standards relating to the application and promotion of recycled materials in key products such as automobiles, electrical and electronic products, and batteries, etc., and encourage industry associations and enterprises to explore and develop carbon footprint accounting standards for recycled materials. Qualified certification bodies are encouraged to certify products made of recycled materials. (The National Development and Reform Commission, the General Administration of Market Regulation, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment are responsible according to the division of responsibilities)

(11) Steadily promote data traceability management for recycled materials. Encourage industry organizations and research institutes to join forces with industrial chain enterprises to explore the construction of recycled materials data traceability platforms, and strengthen information-based traceability management throughout the application and promotion of recycled materials. Guide companies that produce and use recycled materials and third party agencies such as certification and evaluation to strengthen information-based management of the application and promotion of recycled materials. (The National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Commerce are responsible according to the division of responsibilities)

5. Improve the application and promotion policy of recycled materials

(12) Improve market-based mechanisms to reduce carbon emissions from recycled materials. Research projects for the supply and application of recycled materials such as recycled steel, recycled non-ferrous metals, recycled plastics, recycled paper, recycled fiber, recycled glass, etc. into the implementation path of the national voluntary greenhouse gas emission reduction trading market. Strengthen the connection with certification rules related to the application of foreign recycled materials, and enhance the international competitiveness of related products. (The National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, and the General Administration of Market Supervision are responsible according to the division of responsibilities)

(13) Improve incentive policies for the application and promotion of recycled materials. Coordinate existing funding channels to support recycling of renewable resources. Timely research promotes the inclusion of certified recycled material application products in the scope of green procurement by government and public institutions. Encourage enterprises to step up procurement of products containing recycled materials. Encourage key enterprises to play a leading role in the industry, formulate and implement promotion plans for the application of recycled materials, and clarify the main application goals and specific measures for recycled materials. (The National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Commerce are responsible according to the division of responsibilities)

(14) Promote the use of recycled raw materials overseas. Improve import policies for raw materials such as recycled non-ferrous metals and recycled rare metals, study and improve import quality standards and performance index systems for decommissioned power batteries, etc., and standardize the supervision and supervision of imported recycled pulp. Actively encourage domestic renewable resource recycling enterprises to go global and establish an integrated international and domestic resource recycling system. (The National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the Ministry of Commerce, the General Administration of Customs, and the General Administration of Market Supervision are responsible according to the division of responsibilities)

6. Strengthening organizational implementation

(15) Strengthen overall promotion. The National Development and Reform Commission is strengthening coordination and working with relevant departments such as the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the Ministry of Commerce, and the General Administration of Market Supervision to strengthen follow-up, scheduling and progress evaluation of the application and promotion of key recycled materials. Support industry associations and social organizations to formulate specific plans for the application and promotion of recycled materials in this industry and field, incorporate the application and promotion of recycled materials into relevant special plans, and promote leading demonstrations in key industries. (The National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the Ministry of Commerce, and the General Administration of Market Supervision are responsible according to the division of responsibilities)

(16) Strengthen quality management. Strengthen the quality management of recycled materials, strictly implement standards and requirements relating to the performance, safety, and environmental protection of recycled materials, and strictly crack down on illegal and irregularities such as counterfeiting and shoddy, suboptimal, and endangering the lives and health of the public. Strengthen the management of waste recycling sources and strengthen cross-departmental joint law enforcement and supervision. (The Ministry of Ecology and Environment and the General Administration of Market Regulation are responsible according to the division of responsibilities)

(17) Strengthen publicity and guidance. Carry out popularization and publicity education on the application safety of recycled materials, encourage the use of various channels such as television, radio, and new media to strengthen the promotion and promotion of recycled materials, popularize knowledge about the application and promotion of recycled materials, vigorously promote green consumption, and increase the participation of enterprises in the application and promotion of recycled materials and public recognition. (The National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and the Ministry of Commerce are responsible according to the division of responsibilities)

This article was selected from the official website of the “National Development and Reform Commission”. Zhitong Finance Editor: Xu Wenqiang.