Chinese solid waste imports dropped 56.3 percent in the first half of 2018 compared to the same period of last year, state run Xinhua news agency reported citing the customs authority on Saturday. The solid waste imports reached 9.98 million tones over the six month period. The plunge is the result of Beijing’s 2017 decision to ban some trash imports due to deteriorating pollution. In 2018, Chinese authorities added more than 32 types of waste to the blacklist, such as steel waste, used auto parts, and old ships.