China's Solid Waste Plan Targets 4.5 Billion Tonnes, Opening New Crushing Market

Policy Milestone: A Comprehensive Governance Framework for Solid Waste

China has introduced its first systematic policy framework for solid waste governance, marking a fundamental shift in how the country manages industrial, construction, and agricultural waste streams. The State Council issued the Action Plan for Comprehensive Treatment of Solid Waste (Guofa [2025] No. 14) on December 27, 2025, drafted by the National Development and Reform Commission and 24 other government departments. The plan establishes clear targets: by 2030, the annual comprehensive utilisation of bulk solid waste is expected to reach 4.5 billion tonnes, while the annual recycling volume of major renewable resources will hit 510 million tonnes. Zhou Haibing, Deputy Director of the NDRC, stated at a press conference that “solid waste should not be viewed as trash, but as valuable resources that are currently mismanaged”. This policy transformation creates significant opportunities for the crushing equipment industry, as construction waste, tailings, and other solid waste streams overlap directly with the sand and gravel processing sector.

Construction Waste: 3 Billion Tonnes Annually and a Major Resource Gap

Construction and demolition waste represents the largest single category of solid waste in China. The country generates more than 3 billion tonnes of construction waste annually, accounting for over 40% of total urban waste. Yet the resource utilisation rate remains critically low—below 10% nationally—far below the European Union's 42% and Japan's 35%. The Action Plan addresses this gap directly, requiring local governments to improve construction waste management through source reduction, classification, and the accelerated construction of resource utilisation facilities. Shanghai has set a target of 93% comprehensive resource utilisation rate for construction waste, while Jinan has built six large-scale processing facilities with an annual capacity of 6.6 million tonnes. For operators in the crushing sector, this policy push translates to sustained demand for mobile crushing plants and fixed crushing stations capable of processing concrete, bricks, and mixed rubble into specification-grade recycled aggregates.

Tailings and Industrial Solid Waste: A Vast Untapped Resource

Beyond construction waste, China's mining and metallurgical sectors generate enormous volumes of tailings, smelting slag, and other industrial solid waste. The Action Plan explicitly promotes the integrated development of mining and processing operations, encouraging tailings backfilling and on-site utilisation. It requires that new concentrator projects without self-owned mines and supporting tailings utilisation facilities will, in principle, no longer be approved. This policy creates a dual opportunity for the crushing equipment industry: processing tailings for resource recovery, and providing the equipment needed for mines to achieve internal tailings utilisation. In one flagship project, Ansteel's 2.4 million tonnes per year iron tailings re-separation system successfully upgraded iron content from just 11% to over 64%, producing 2.2 million tonnes of iron concentrate annually. Similar technologies are being deployed for titanium tailings, with annual generation exceeding 30 million tonnes. The demand for energy-efficient crushers and VSI sand makers capable of processing these challenging materials is set to increase substantially.

Equipment Implications: From Jaw Crushers to VSI Sand Makers

The Action Plan's emphasis on "resource utilisation" and "harmless treatment" has direct implications for crushing equipment specification. Construction waste processing requires robust primary crushing—typically a jaw crusher or impact crusher—to handle reinforced concrete and mixed demolition debris. For producing specification-grade recycled aggregates, secondary and tertiary crushing stages using cone crushers and VSI crushers are essential. The plan also encourages the use of mobile crushing stations for on-site processing, reducing transport costs and environmental impact. Industry leaders are already responding to this demand. Recent product launches include 9 new models of crushing and recycling equipment covering jaw crushers, cone crushers, impact crushers, and VSI crushers, with upgraded designs delivering up to 20% higher capacity compared to industry averages and a 10% improvement in sand yield for VSI models. The waste crushing equipment market is expanding at an annual growth rate of 16.4%, reflecting the scale of the opportunity.

OCP Mechanical Company: Factory-Direct Solutions for Solid Waste Processing

With over 40 years of manufacturing experience and exports to more than 180 countries and regions worldwide, OCP Mechanical Company supplies high-performance crushing and screening equipment engineered for the demands of solid waste processing. Our product range includes jaw crushers, cone crushers, impact crushers, VSI sand makers, vibrating screens, feeders, and complete crushing and screening plants—all brand-new and built to rigorous quality standards. Our equipment is designed for the specific requirements of construction waste recycling, tailings reprocessing, and industrial solid waste utilisation, with features including heavy-duty construction for reinforced concrete, adjustable settings for variable feed conditions, and integrated dust suppression for environmental compliance. As a direct factory manufacturer, we eliminate distributor margins, passing the savings directly to you. All price information provided is for reference only; final quotes depend on equipment configuration, shipping terms, optional features, and current exchange rates. Our engineering team works closely with each customer to design custom crushing plants that match specific site conditions, feed characteristics, and production targets—whether you are processing construction waste for recycled aggregates or reprocessing tailings for valuable mineral recovery. Product specifications are continuously updated; please consult our online customer service for the latest technical parameters tailored to your application.

Your Next Step: Get a Custom Quote for Your Solid Waste Project

China's Action Plan for Comprehensive Treatment of Solid Waste creates a clear and compelling market opportunity for crushing equipment suppliers and operators alike. With 4.5 billion tonnes of annual bulk solid waste utilisation targeted by 2030, construction waste resource utilisation below 10%, and tailings reprocessing emerging as a major new application, the demand for reliable, high-efficiency crushing and screening equipment has never been greater. OCP Mechanical Company offers factory-direct, high-quality jaw crushers, impact crushers, VSI sand makers, and complete crushing and screening solutions engineered for durability, energy efficiency, and low total cost of ownership—all at competitive prices. Our online customer service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to provide free consultations, updated price references, and equipment selection guidance. Click the chat button now to discuss your project with a specialist—we are ready to help you build a more efficient and profitable solid waste processing operation.