Smuggled Hazardous Waste Seized in Tianjin: 20 Tons of 'Yellow' Garbage Originating from the US

Chinese authorities seized 20.47 tons of smuggled "yellow" garbage, which is a type of garbage that contains hazardous materials, from an empty container on a vessel that arrived in Tianjin. This marks the first time that such an incident has occurred in Tianjin, a key port in northern China. The container, which was supposed to be empty, was found to contain various solid wastes, including used electronic equipment, plastic waste, and discarded clothing.

Reactions to the news have been swift and fierce on Chinese social media, with many users condemning the "yellow" garbage and demanding that it be sent back to its source country. There has also been criticism of the Chinese Customs for not catching the smuggled goods earlier.

"The US deserves to be punished for dumping garbage in China," one user wrote, while another asked how the smuggled garbage got into the country in the first place.

The seized garbage was found to have originated from the US, and it is currently unclear how it managed to enter China. China has been working to ban the import of foreign garbage since 2018, and this latest incident has only reinforced the need for stricter border controls.

Tianjin Customs recently announced that they have tightened their checks on incoming containers and will be conducting more thorough inspections to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.

The smuggled garbage is a reminder of the challenges China faces in its quest to become a more environmentally-friendly country. Although the country has made significant progress in reducing its carbon footprint, it still faces challenges in dealing with the influx of hazardous waste.

The seized "yellow" garbage will be sent back to the US, authorities said. Until such a time, it will be temporarily stored in a special facility in Tianjin.