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Waste Import Bans and Environmental Quality: Evidence from China's Electronic Waste Disposal Towns

Author

Listed:
  • Lian Guo
  • W. D. Walls

    (University of Calgary)

  • Xiaoli Zheng

Abstract

In 2018, the Chinese government introduced a ban on a variety of imported waste, including waste plastics from living sources. Beginning in 2021, the ban expanded to include all foreign solid waste. This paper investigates the impact of the current ban on the air quality of China's electronic waste (e-waste) disposal towns. Using a daily panel of China's major e-waste disposal hubs from 2017 to 2019, we estimate the effect of the ban on air pollution within Difference-in-Difference (DID) and Regression Discontinuity (RD) frameworks: We find that local air pollution decreased by 15%--28% due to the ban. We also find the imported-waste ban is cost effective: the potential health benefits considerably outweigh the extra cost borne by downstream industries using recycled e-waste as an input. China's air quality improvement informs similar policies on waste import control being considered by other developing countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Lian Guo & W. D. Walls & Xiaoli Zheng, "undated". "Waste Import Bans and Environmental Quality: Evidence from China's Electronic Waste Disposal Towns," Working Papers 2021-02, Department of Economics, University of Calgary.
    • Handle: RePEc:clg:wpaper:2021-02
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    Cited by:

    1. is not listed on IDEAS
    2. Unfried, Kerstin & Wang, Feicheng, 2024. "Importing air pollution? Evidence from China’s plastic waste imports," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 125(C).
    3. Caterina Gennaioli & Gaia Narciso, 2025. "Toxic Roads," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 88(6), pages 1773-1803, June.

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • Q53 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Air Pollution; Water Pollution; Noise; Hazardous Waste; Solid Waste; Recycling
    • Q56 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environment and Development; Environment and Trade; Sustainability; Environmental Accounts and Accounting; Environmental Equity; Population Growth
    • Q58 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environmental Economics: Government Policy
    • F64 - International Economics - - Economic Impacts of Globalization - - - Environment

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