This year, my country took the lead in prohibiting and restricting the production, sale, and use of some plastic products in certain regions and areas. At present, all localities are working hard to promote the implementation of the new version of the "Plastic Limitation Order".
The relevant policies of Shanxi Province on the launch of the ban will focus on one-off plastic products and actively explore the banned control mode; Shandong Province has recently issued a notice that clarifies the “timetable” for the province’s comprehensive strengthening of plastic pollution control; Starting from January 1, the three-month special rectification action on plastic bags will be carried out in agricultural retail markets, convenience stores, supermarkets and other commodity retail venues. The sale and use of ultra-thin plastic bags and the provision of free plastic shopping bags will be illegal Investigate and punish in accordance with the law; Hainan Province made it clear that from April to November, key industries and venues will be organized in steps and phases to take the lead in carrying out the “plastic ban” pilot work, laying a solid foundation for the full implementation of the “plastic ban” from December...
Since the beginning of this year, the policies for the treatment of plastic pollution have continued. On January 19, the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment issued the "Opinions on Further Strengthening the Treatment of Plastic Pollution" (hereinafter referred to as the "Opinions"). This policy, known as the "New Plastic Restriction Order", has aroused widespread concern in society; Nearly 3 months later, on April 10, the National Development and Reform Commission issued the "Prohibited, Restricted Production, Sales, and Use of Plastic Products Catalog (Draft for Comment)"; the new solid waste law that will be officially implemented from September 1, Relevant regulations on plastic products have also been added.
As early as 2008, the General Office of the State Council issued the “Notice on Restricting the Use of Plastic Shopping Bags” called “Plastic Limitation Orders”. How to objectively evaluate the effectiveness of the “Plastic Limitation Orders” over the past 10 years? Liu Jianguo, a professor at the School of Environmental Sciences at Tsinghua University, believes that the effect can be analyzed from the “Plastics Limitation Order” issued in 2008. One is to restrict the production, sales and use of ultra-thin plastic bags. This goal is basically achieved. At present, the ultra-thin plastic bags in regular channels It has been relatively rare; the second is the paid use of plastic bags, which is basically realized where the management tentacles are reached; the third is the standard management of plastics, which puts forward some general requirements.
"The limited goals set at that time were basically achieved. However, with the development of the economy and society and the continuous growth of consumption, the increase in plastics has masked the effects of the plastic restrictions." Liu Jianguo said.
At present, with the changes in production and lifestyles and the development of emerging formats, plastic pollution treatment is facing new situations and challenges. Liu Jianguo said that high-quality development places higher demands on the environment. China is advancing garbage classification and building a “wasteless city”, and international attention to marine plastic pollution has reached an unprecedentedly high level. Under this background, the treatment of plastic pollution requires a system-wide, full-process, and comprehensive system design .
Where is the new "plastic restriction order"? The relevant person in charge of the National Development and Reform Commission said that the "Opinions" are systematic compared with the previous policies on the control 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 systematic nature of full life cycle management. And integrity, is conducive to the establishment of a long-term mechanism to control plastic pollution.
Liu Jianguo said that the "Opinions" followed the "prohibition of a batch, replacement of a batch, and standardization of a batch of ideas" to regulate the production and consumption of plastic products, as well as the recycling and management of the waste. Compared to the past, it is more comprehensive for ultra-thin plastic bags.
"On the basis of reduction, substitution, and recycling, the key is to allow plastic products to enter the standard collection and processing system." Liu Jianguo said, more importantly, in terms of the construction of a long-term mechanism, the policy guarantee of the "Opinions" is more powerful.
In addition to traditional fields such as supermarkets and food markets, in recent years, the consumption of express plastic packaging and take-out plastic tableware, etc. brought by emerging formats such as e-commerce, express delivery, and take-out has been rising rapidly. The "Research Report on the Characteristics and Management Status of China's Express Packaging Waste" shows that the consumption of various types of express packaging materials in my country has increased from 20,600 tons in 2000 to 9,142,300 tons in 2018, of which 851,800 tons are plastic packaging materials. Due to difficulties in recycling, high recycling costs, and low recycling profits, about 99% of express packaging waste plastics are mixed with household garbage.
In this regard, the "Opinions" not only proposes regulatory requirements for prohibitions and restrictions, but also clarifies the promotion and application of alternative products, fosters and optimizes new business models and new models, increases the supply of green products, and promotes systematic measures such as standardized recycling and disposal of plastic waste. . The "Opinions" suggest that by 2025, the consumption intensity of non-degradable disposable plastic tableware in the catering and take-out area of cities above the prefecture level will drop by 30%. Non-degradable plastic packaging bags, plastic tapes, disposable plastic woven bags, etc. are prohibited in nationwide postal and express delivery outlets.
According to the principle of highlighting key points and orderly advancement, the "Opinions" distinguishes between key cities, cities above prefecture level and relevant county-level cities, and promotes the treatment of plastic pollution in steps and areas according to the three time periods of 2020, 2022, and 2025. Work as a whole.
In Liu Jianguo's view, although plastics do not account for a large proportion of petroleum products consumption, they are closely related to everyone's life and have a high degree of social attention. Plastic waste management is good, and it can play an effective leading role in the management of other wastes, which is of great significance for promoting green production and consumption.
Plastic pollution control work involves a wide range of fields and many subjects. How to ensure the implementation of the "Opinions"? Meng Wei, a spokesman for the National Development and Reform Commission, previously said that on the one hand, it will strengthen policy support and technological support. For example, increase support for key projects, implement relevant fiscal and taxation policies, increase key core technology research and achievement transformation of recyclable and degradable materials, and improve the performance of alternative materials and products. On the other hand, improve system standards and strictly enforce law enforcement and supervision. At the same time, strengthen the supervision and inspection of the implementation of plastic pollution control, the key issues are included in the central ecological environmental protection inspection, and strengthen assessment and accountability.
Liu Jianguo reminded that it is necessary to prevent the transfer of low-end plastic products from economically developed places to backward places, from places with strong supervision and utilization ability to places with weak supervision and utilization ability.
"The specific implementation of the government's ability to fine-tune the management and overall coordination is a challenge for the green development capabilities of enterprises in the process of transformation and upgrading." Liu Jianguo said that the implementation of the new "plastic restrictions" cannot be "one size fits all". ", and we must promote precise measures according to local conditions.
Reporter Xiong Li