Urban mining demonstration bases in China: A new approach to the reclamation of resources

This paper aims to examine a key Chinese circular economy program, the Urban Mining Demonstration Base Construction (UMDBC) Program, for its successes, experiences and existing problems. Using publicly available data and detailed investigation and analysis, we discuss the details of the UMDBC Program. Although the whole program has been implemented and has made significant progress, some problems exist. Our findings suggest that it is more important for the Chinese government to provide an effective legal framework than merely provide financial support. The experiences and lessons from research into the UMDBC Program could serve as an example to other developing countries facing environmental and resource pressures.