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Reply from the Ministry of Ecology and Environment on Issues Related to Adhering to the “Proximity Principle” in the Approval Process for Inter-Provincial Transfers of Hazardous Waste
Release time:
24 Mar,2026
Chongqing Municipal Ecology and Environment Bureau:
We have received your bureau’s "Request for Instructions on Issues Concerning the Adherence to the 'Proximity Principle' in the Approval of Inter-provincial Hazardous Waste Transfers" (Chongqing Municipal Ecology and Environment Bureau Document No. 10, 2026). Following careful deliberation, we hereby issue our reply as follows.
The Measures for the Administration of Hazardous Waste Transfers and relevant documents stipulate that hazardous waste transfers shall comply with the proximity principle. This principle is primarily intended to mitigate environmental risks by avoiding long-distance, large-scale transfers that could exacerbate such risks. Meanwhile, however, factors including utilization and disposal capacity, technological capabilities, and costs must be comprehensively considered; the decision on whether to permit a hazardous waste transfer shall not be based solely on distance. The "proximity principle" shall not be directly used as a restrictive condition for approving hazardous waste transfers; instead, it shall be applied on a case-by-case basis in light of specific circumstances.
For inter-provincial hazardous waste transfers, the "proximity principle" mainly applies to disposal activities such as incineration and landfill. Where the capacity of relevant hazardous waste disposal facilities is sufficient and the associated technological standards and pricing are reasonable, hazardous waste shall, in principle, be disposed of within the province. In cases of insufficient capacity, neighboring provinces or those engaged in regional cooperation are encouraged to share hazardous waste disposal facilities on a proximity basis, or to transfer such waste to nationally coordinated hazardous waste disposal facilities.
In terms of utilization, there are significant regional disparities in the development of hazardous waste utilization facilities and capacity. Hazardous waste transfers for utilization purposes shall generally be governed by market mechanisms. On the premise that national and local laws, regulations, and environmental protection standards are met, the requirements for promoting the construction of a unified national market must be strictly implemented. No form of restrictive administrative barriers shall be imposed on the interregional transfer of hazardous waste for utilization, nor shall the "proximity principle" be invoked as a pretext to block such inter-provincial transfers .
Furthermore, within the jurisdiction of any province, the establishment of any form of administrative barriers that restrict the intra-provincial transfer, disposal, and utilization of hazardous waste is strictly prohibited.
This is our official reply.
Contact Person: Wang Yi, Division of Solid Waste and Chemicals
Telephone: (010) 65645770
General Office of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment
March 13, 2026
(This document is publicly available.)
CC: Ecological and Environmental Departments (Bureaus) of all other provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government; Ecological and Environmental Bureau of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps.
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