China will restrict imports of scrap metal from July 1, 2019, the environment authority said on Dec 29.

Scrap steel, aluminum and copper are among eight items that will be moved from an unrestricted import list of solid waste used as raw materials to a restricted import list, according to the statement by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment.

It said relevant departments are working to formulate standards for copper and aluminum raw materials. If the standards are met, these can be imported as regular goods and would not be considered solid waste.

Imports of solid waste continued to slump in the first 10 months of 2018, down 51.5 percent from the same period last year, as China tightened import restrictions.

In April, the country listed 16 items like hardware, ships and auto parts waste as restricted goods for imports from Dec 31 this year. Also, 16 more items like stainless steel, titanium scraps and broken wood wastes were specified in another list that will take effect on Dec, 2019.

The move is part of the country’s effort to improve the ecological environment and safeguard the health of its people.