2020 will be a "big limit" for many plastic products
Eliminate white pollution, my country once again clarifies the timetable
Our reporter Li He
In 2020, take the lead in prohibiting and restricting the production, sales and use of some plastic products in certain regions and fields;
In 2022, the consumption of disposable plastic products has decreased significantly, and alternative products have been promoted;
In 2025, the management system for the production, circulation, consumption, recycling and disposal of plastic products was basically established, and a multiple co-governance system was basically formed, and plastic pollution was effectively controlled.
Recently, the Beijing Market Supervision Bureau focused on the three-month plastic bag special rectification actions in the retail market of agricultural markets, convenience stores, supermarkets and other commodities. The sale and use of ultra-thin plastic bags and the provision of free plastic shopping bags are illegal. Be investigated and dealt with.
Coincidentally. Hainan plans to spend eight months starting from April 1 to organize key industries and venues in steps and stages to take the lead in carrying out the “plastic ban” pilot work, which will help the province formally complete the “plastic ban” on December 1. Good foundation.
In 2020, it will be the "life and death line" for many plastic products. By the end of 2020, my country will ban the production and sale of disposable foam plastic tableware, disposable plastic cotton swabs, and the production of daily chemical products containing plastic beads.
In response to the current "white pollution" caused by plastic products, a new package of policies has been introduced at the national and local levels since this year. First, the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment issued the "Opinions on Further Strengthening the Control of Plastic Pollution" (hereinafter referred to as the "Opinions"), which was hailed as the upgraded version of the "Plastic Limitation Order" in 2008, and clearly proposed the time for further strengthening the pollution control Table; Subsequently, the National Development and Reform Commission issued the "Prohibited, Restricted Production, Sales and Use of Plastic Products Catalog (Draft for Comment)" (hereinafter referred to as "Plastic Prohibited Catalog"); the "Chinese People's Republic of China" to be implemented from September 1 The Republic ’s Law on the Prevention and Control of Environmental Pollution by Solid Wastes (hereinafter referred to as the “Solid Waste Law”) stipulates that if the country fails to comply with the national regulations prohibiting or restricting the use of non-degradable plastic bags and other disposable plastic products, a fine of 10,000 to 100,000 will be imposed .
From "plastic limitation" to strengthening "prohibition limitation" to refining legal responsibilities, my country's treatment of plastic pollution is being effectively and orderly promoted.
Focus on the whole life cycle management of plastic products
my country has now become the world's largest plastic producer and consumer. With the changes in production and lifestyles such as e-commerce, express delivery, and take-out, and the development of new formats, the consumption of plastic products, especially disposable plastic products, continues to rise.
Due to the low profit of most waste plastic recycling, 99% of the express waste plastics will be mixed into domestic garbage and eventually burned or landfilled. "Research Report on the Characteristics and Management Status of China's Express Packaging Waste" pointed out that in 2018, my country's express industry consumed 851,800 tons of plastic packaging materials. Of the plastic packaging waste, only 17,700 tons will be recycled.
Jiang Nanqing, secretary general of the Plastic Recycling Branch of the China Synthetic Resin Supply and Marketing Association, said that the biggest problem with plastic packaging is that it is thrown away after it is used up. It is not recycled as a resource product and has a very short life cycle. Compared with the previous one, one of the highlights of the "Opinions" is that it focuses on the construction of the overall plastic recycling industry chain, and proposes to build a plastic recycling management system and steps to exert efforts from different levels, such as standardizing the production of enterprises and improving the garbage recycling system. Wait. There is also a relatively comprehensive system plan for supporting supervision, policy and technological R & D.
Meng Wei, a spokesman for the National Development and Reform Commission, said that the Opinions are systematic, synergistic, and orderly compared to the previous policies related to the treatment of plastic pollution. Unlike previous policies that only regulate individual links and individual fields, the policy measures proposed in the "Opinions" basically cover the entire process and links of the production, circulation, use, recycling, and disposal of plastic products, reflecting the system of full life cycle management. Sex and integrity, is conducive to the establishment of a long-term mechanism to control plastic pollution.
"The upgraded version of the 'Plastic Restriction Order' is mainly aimed at the environmental hazards caused by the use of disposable plastic products, promoting the easy recycling, recycling, and reduction of plastic products." President of the Plastic Recycling Branch of China Synthetic Resin Supply and Marketing Association, Tongji University Professor Du Huanzheng, director of the Research Institute of Circular Economy, said in an interview with the Science and Technology Daily that unlike in the past, the "Opinions" also clearly set a time point for completing the task: starting this year, it will be the first to ban and restrict some plastics in some regions and areas. Production, sales and use of products; by 2022, the consumption of disposable plastic products has been significantly reduced, alternative products have been promoted, and the proportion of plastic waste as a resource has been greatly increased; by 2025, the production, circulation, consumption and recycling of plastic products The management system for disposal and other aspects has been basically established, a multi-component co-governance system has been basically formed, the level of alternative product development and application has been further improved, the amount of plastic waste landfilled in key cities has been greatly reduced, and plastic pollution has been effectively controlled.
Du Huanzheng said that the "Solid Waste Law" provides specific legal responsibilities and fines for violations of the "prohibition" of non-degradable plastic bags and other disposable plastic products based on my country's current solid waste disposal status. This is to regulate the behavior of "prohibition" and refine the legal responsibilities, so that the punishment can be based on the law and the law enforcement is more operable.
Equal emphasis on source reduction and end classification and recycling
The "Opinions" set out specific limits and timetables for non-degradable plastic bags, disposable plastic tableware, disposable plastic supplies for hotels and hotels, and express plastic packaging. For example, the production and sale of ultra-thin plastic shopping bags with a thickness of less than 0.025 mm and polyethylene agricultural mulch with a thickness of less than 0.01 mm are prohibited.
Subsequently, the "Plastic Prohibition Catalog" put forward more detailed regulations on the variety and scope of use, and required that the detailed standards of the categories involved in the catalog will be dynamically adjusted according to the implementation.
Dr. Mao Da, a policy adviser of the Zero Waste Alliance, told Sci-Tech Daily that it is not enough to sort and recycle plastic pollution. It is necessary to take measures to reduce the amount of waste. The "Opinions" clearly prohibit and restrict some plastic products and block the production of these products at the source, which is conducive to reducing the pressure on the classification, recycling and disposal of plastic waste at the end.
Mao Da pointed out that the plastic products that are included in the "Plastic Prohibition Catalog" are mainly plastic products with large domestic consumption, more serious pollution, and previous reduction experience. For example, from July 2019, Shanghai ’s "six small" Pieces "etc.
In addition, when formulating the "Plastics Prohibition Catalogue", the relevant provisions of the international "Plastics Prohibition" were also referred to. In May 2019, the EU version of the "Plastic Prohibition Order" came into effect, stipulating that the use of disposable plastic products with alternatives will be banned by 2021, including plastic straws, disposable tableware, cotton swabs, etc. Achieve recycling of 90% beverage bottles. Plastic straws, disposable tableware and cotton swabs are also included in the "Plastic Prohibition Catalog."
Meng Wei said that the formation of green production and lifestyle is not achieved overnight. According to the "Opinions", China follows the principle of "emphasis on key points, orderly advancement, innovation and leadership, technological support, multiple participation, and social co-governance", in accordance with the "forbidden limits" "One batch, alternative circulation batch, standard batch" thinking, strengthen plastic pollution control.
The degradable plastics industry still faces many bottlenecks
"Opinions" clearly pointed out that promote the use of degradable shopping bags, degradable packaging films (bags), promote the use of alternative products such as degradable plastic bags in the catering takeout field; strengthen the development of degradable alternative materials and products; Key core technology research and achievement transformation of degradable materials, carrying out technical verification and product selection of degradable mulch, etc.
Degradable plastics are also a hot topic for the representatives and members of the two sessions this year. Lan Minbo, member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and director of the Shanghai Key Laboratory of Functional Materials Chemistry, pointed out that it is urgent to develop a large number of new biodegradable materials and products after the release of the "Opinions". At the same time, combined with the "Plastic Prohibition Catalog" to increase scientific research support, research and development of traceable plastic standard products.
Zheng Yueming, a representative of the National People's Congress and chairman of Lianhong New Material Technology Co., Ltd., said that at present, China's biodegradable materials industry is still facing many bottlenecks, mainly because the production technology is not mature enough, and large-scale production has not yet been formed. In terms of traditional plastics, the high cost restricts its popularization and application.
Du Huanzheng pointed out that there are many types of degradable plastics on the market, and it is necessary to establish relevant evaluation standards and certification systems to standardize the determination of degradable plastics. In terms of promotion and application, a new system for the production, sale, use, and recycling of degradable plastics must also be established in terms of product application conditions and production capacity to meet the requirements of the "Opinions".
Mao Da said that at present, the use of ordinary plastic bags has not been completely banned. If some residents use degradable bags, but others do not, degradable plastic bags and non-degradable plastic bags are mixed together and enter the compost yard, which is difficult to distinguish and cannot achieve the effect of degradation.
To this end, Mao Da suggested that the use scope and applicable level of degradable plastics should be clearly limited. For example, degradable plastics are more suitable for food contact packaging and plastic bags for kitchen waste. In special occasions where it is not easy to mix in traditional plastic waste during recycling, priority may also be given to the use of degradable plastics, such as tea bags, coffee capsules, and fast food boxes provided in large-scale events. For e-commerce, express delivery and other industries, it is more difficult to use degradable materials on a large scale. Therefore, more attention should be paid to the reusability of packaging products to reduce the use strength of disposable plastics.
"To eliminate white pollution, the reduction of disposable plastics, the recycling of plastics, and the use of degradable plastics, the three parties should go hand in hand." Du Huanzheng said.