WASTE paper imports through south China's Guangdong ports topped 10.33 million tons last year, a surge of 13.3 percent over the level in 2008, local customs said yesterday. However, some garbage was found among the paper, the customs said, cautioning against environmental problems.

In December alone, waste paper imports through Guangdong jumped 17.1 percent year on year to 859,000 tons. But the imports declined from the 1.02 million ton annual peak in June. The customs attributed the increase in imports to strong demand for paper due to an economic recovery and a decline in paper pulp production in China.