Recently, the fourth meeting of the Central Financial and Economic Commission emphasized that accelerating product upgrading is an important measure to promote high-quality development, and it is necessary to encourage and guide a new round of large-scale equipment updates and the replacement of old consumer goods. The "Notice on Improving the Recycling System of Renewable Resources such as Used Home Appliances and Furniture" recently issued by nine departments including the Ministry of Commerce also pointed out that it is necessary to further release the consumption potential of home appliances and furniture, smooth the recycling of renewable resources, and promote the formation of a green production and lifestyle.

Prosperous consumer market

In recent years, my country's home appliance and furniture market has moved from an era of pure increment to an era of equal emphasis on both increment and stock. The overall inventory and the amount of renewal and scrapping are both large, and the demand for renewal has entered a period of concentrated release. According to statistics from relevant industry associations, in 2023, the total volume of waste household appliances recycled in my country will reach 4.5 million tons, containing a large number of precious metals and plastics such as gold, silver, copper, and tin. Data shows that for every ton of waste home appliances recycled, the dismantled renewable resources can reduce greenhouse gas emissions such as carbon dioxide by approximately 4.7 tons.

When interpreting the "Notice", the relevant person in charge of the Circulation Development Department of the Ministry of Commerce said that improving the recycling system of waste household appliances and furniture and other renewable resources will help improve the convenience of replacing old household appliances and furniture with new ones, release the consumption potential of household appliances and furniture renewal, and is important for promoting the formation of a green production and lifestyle. significance.

Improving the recycling system of renewable resources such as used household appliances and furniture will play a significant role in developing a circular economy and promoting green development. "Waste household appliances and furniture link production and life, reaching thousands of households in cities and rural areas. They are related to the 'integration of the two networks' of garbage classification and resource recycling. As the main type of renewable resource recycling, they are important for promoting green production, green life and green consumption. The whole chain of green development has a demonstration and leading role." Cheng Huiqiang, deputy secretary-general of the China Development Research Foundation and development research researcher of the State Council, said in an interview with a reporter from International Business Daily.

According to Jiao Xudong, an engineer at the Chinese Academy of Environmental Sciences, the recycling of used household appliances, furniture and other products is connected with the utilization of waste and the upgrading of people's consumption. Only when old appliances and furniture are laid off can new appliances and furniture be put on the job. Accelerating the construction of a waste home appliance and furniture recycling system and unblocking recycling channels will play an important role in accelerating the elimination of old home appliances and furniture, upgrading energy-saving, environmentally friendly, green and smart home appliances and furniture products, further releasing the consumption potential of home appliances and furniture, and promoting consumption upgrading.

Similarly, Cai Haizhen, deputy secretary-general of the China Renewable Resources Recycling Association, believes that the practical policies proposed in the "Notice" have opened up the "one kilometer" of consumer transactions, effectively expanded the front-end recycling network, and gradually promoted consumers to develop good habits. trading habits, and encourage consumers to standardize the disposal of used household appliances and used furniture, create a simple, moderate, green and low-carbon good atmosphere, and share a green life. At the same time, it has effectively smoothed the recycling of used household appliances and furniture, and vigorously promoted the renewal and consumption of household appliances and furniture.

"Benchmark" drive

The "Notice" proposes that by 2025, a number of typical cities for the recycling system of waste household appliances and furniture and other renewable resources will be built nationwide, a number of leading recycling enterprises will be cultivated, a number of typical experience models will be promoted, and a number of policies, regulations and standards will be formed to form a national waste recycling system. The recycling volume of home appliances and furniture has increased by more than 15% compared with 2023, and the level of standardized recycling of waste home appliances and furniture has improved significantly.

Accelerating product upgrading and promoting green recycling consumption will help promote high-quality development. Jiao Xudong said that in the process of promoting green consumption upgrades and high-quality development, we should further increase scientific and technological innovation in resource recycling and develop new productivity. Establishing and improving the recycling system of renewable resources such as used household appliances and furniture has important practical significance and demonstration effect in improving the level of resource recycling and promoting the development of green and low-carbon cycle. By cultivating a group of typical cities and typical enterprises, they can play their "benchmark" demonstration and leading role, promote the agglomeration, scale, and standardized development of the renewable resources industry, and contribute to accelerating the construction of a waste recycling system.

As early as August 2008, the 23rd executive meeting of the State Council passed the "Regulations on the Management of Recycling and Disposal of Waste Electrical and Electronic Products"; in December 2008, the policy of sending home appliances to the countryside was launched, which continues to this day; in 2010, the "Qualification License for the Treatment of Waste Electrical and Electronic Products" was issued Management Measures"; the "Waste Electrical and Electronic Products Disposal Catalog" and "Several Provisions on Developing and Adjusting the Waste Electrical and Electronic Products Disposal Catalog" were implemented in January 2011; in May 2012, the "Waste Electrical and Electronic Products Disposal Fund Collection and Use Management Measures" were issued ", has successfully completed its historical mission. Fund collection will be stopped in January 2024; in July 2016, the national standard "Pollution Control Guidelines for the Recycling and Treatment of Waste Electrical and Electronic Products" will be implemented.

According to the above timeline, Cheng Huiqiang explained that the recycling of used household appliances and furniture has formed a system of regulations, policies and standards earlier in the renewable resource recycling system, and has played an obvious role in demonstration and leadership. At the same time, the recycling of used household appliances and furniture has also played a leading role in intelligent recycling and bulky waste recycling.

"On the whole, my country's waste household appliances and furniture recycling system is at an important turning point in reconstruction. More waste household appliances and furniture need to enter the standardized recycling system. It is imperative to improve and upgrade the recycling system." Cai Haizhen said, typical The demonstration drive of cities and typical enterprises will help the renewable resource recycling system achieve new breakthroughs, new progress, and new results. This "Notice on Improving the Recycling System of Waste Home Appliances and Furniture and Other Renewable Resources" was issued as a major policy document for the renewable resources industry in 2024. It is believed that it will play a significant and long-term role in further improving the system of waste home appliances and furniture.