BEIJING -- China saw falling imports of solid waste in the first half of this year with the implementation of the ban on foreign garbage.

The country's solid waste import reached 7.286 million tonnes in H1, down 28.1 percent year on year, according to Li Ganjie, head of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment.

China issued a plan in 2017 to phase out import of solid waste capable of being replaced by domestic resources by the end of 2019.

Regulations will be stepped up on illegal imports of foreign waste, with targeted programs to crack down on smuggling of such trash, Li said.

About 1.55 million tonnes of smuggled foreign waste was seized by the country's customs authorities last year.