Photo by Liu Daowei (Xinhua News Agency)

This year, China took the lead in banning and restricting the production, sale and use of some plastic products in some regions and fields. At present, all regions are working hard to promote the implementation of the new version of the "Plastic Ban".

Shanxi Province recently issued relevant policies, focusing on the ban and restriction of disposable plastic products, and actively exploring the ban and restriction control model; Shandong Province recently issued a notice to clarify the "timetable" for the province to comprehensively strengthen the governance of plastic pollution; Beijing will focus on farmers' markets, convenience stores, supermarkets and other commodity retail places from May 1st, and carry out a three-month special campaign to rectify plastic bags, and investigate and deal with illegal and irregular behaviors such as the sale and use of ultra-thin plastic bags and the free provision of plastic shopping bags in accordance with the law; Hainan Province has made it clear that from April to November, key industries and places will be organized in steps and stages to take the lead in carrying out the "plastic ban" pilot work, laying a good foundation for the formal and comprehensive implementation of the "plastic ban" from December...

Since the beginning of this year, the policy intensity for the governance of plastic pollution has continued. On January 19, the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment issued the "Opinions on Further Strengthening Plastic Pollution Control" (hereinafter referred to as the "Opinions"). This policy, known as the "New Plastic Ban", has attracted widespread attention from the society. Nearly three months later, on April 10, the National Development and Reform Commission issued the "Catalogue of Plastic Products Prohibited, Restricted from Production, Sales and Use (Draft for Comments)"; the new solid waste law, which will be officially implemented on September 1, also added relevant regulations on plastic products.

As early as 2008, the General Office of the State Council issued the "Notice on Restricting the Production, Sales and Use of Plastic Shopping Bags", which is known as the "Plastic Ban". How to objectively evaluate the effectiveness of the "Plastic Ban" for more than 10 years? Liu Jianguo, a professor at the School of Environment at Tsinghua University, believes that the effect of the "plastic restriction order" issued in 2008 can be analyzed. First, the production, sale and use of ultra-thin plastic bags were restricted. This goal has been basically achieved. Ultra-thin plastic bags in formal channels are now relatively rare. Second, the paid use of plastic bags has been basically achieved in places where management tentacles reach. Third, some relatively general requirements were put forward for the standardized management of plastics.

"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 overshadowed the effect of the plastic restriction order." Liu Jianguo said.

At present, with the transformation of production and lifestyle and the development of emerging business formats, plastic pollution control work faces new situations and challenges. Liu Jianguo said that high-quality development has put forward higher requirements for the environment. China is promoting garbage sorting and building "zero-waste cities". The international attention to marine plastic pollution has also reached an unprecedented high level. Against this background, the governance of plastic pollution requires a full-system, full-process and all-round institutional design.

What's new about the new "plastic restriction order"? A relevant person in charge of the National Development and Reform Commission said that compared with previous policies on plastic pollution control, the Opinions is systematic. Unlike previous policies that only regulated individual links and individual fields, the policy measures proposed in the Opinions basically cover the entire process and links of plastic product production, circulation, use, recycling and disposal, reflecting the systematic and holistic management of the entire life cycle, which is conducive to the establishment of a long-term mechanism for plastic pollution control.

Liu Jianguo said that the Opinions, in accordance with the idea of "banning and restricting a batch, replacing and recycling a batch, and standardizing a batch", have made provisions for plastic products from production, consumption to disposal, as well as recycling and management after disposal. Compared with the past, which mainly targeted ultra-thin plastic bags, it is much more comprehensive.

"On the basis of reduction, substitution and recycling, the key is to allow plastic products to enter a standardized collection and treatment system." Liu Jianguo said that 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 vegetable markets, in recent years, the consumption of express plastic packaging, takeaway plastic tableware and other emerging formats such as e-commerce, express delivery and takeaway has been rising rapidly. The "Research Report on the Generation Characteristics and Management Status of Express Packaging Waste in China" shows that the consumption of various express packaging materials in China has increased from 20,600 tons in 2000 to 9.4123 million tons in 2018, of which 851,800 tons are plastic packaging materials. Due to the difficulty of recycling, high recycling costs and low recycling profits, about 99% of express packaging waste plastics are mixed into domestic garbage.

In this regard, the "Opinions" not only put forward regulatory requirements for prohibition and restriction, but also clarified systematic measures such as promoting the application of alternative products, cultivating and optimizing new business forms and models, increasing the supply of green products, and promoting the standardized recycling and disposal of plastic waste. The "Opinions" proposed that by 2025, the consumption intensity of non-degradable disposable plastic tableware in the catering takeaway field in cities at or above the prefecture level will be reduced by 30%. Postal express outlets across China are prohibited from using non-degradable plastic packaging bags, plastic tapes, disposable plastic woven bags, etc.

In accordance with the principle of highlighting key points and advancing in an orderly manner, the Opinions distinguish between key cities, cities at or above the prefectural level, and relevant county-level cities, and promote the overall work of plastic pollution control in steps and fields according to the three time periods of 2020, 2022, and 2025.

In Liu Jianguo's view, although plastics account for a small proportion of petroleum product consumption, they are closely related to everyone's life and have attracted high social attention. If plastic waste is well managed, it can effectively drive the management of other wastes, which is of great significance for promoting green production and consumption.

Plastic pollution control involves a wide range of fields and many subjects. How to ensure the implementation of the Opinions? Meng Wei, spokesperson of the National Development and Reform Commission, previously stated that on the one hand, policy support and scientific and technological support should be strengthened. For example, support for key projects should be increased, relevant fiscal and taxation policies should be implemented, key core technology research and results transformation of recyclable and degradable materials should be intensified, and the performance of alternative materials and products should be improved. On the other hand, institutional standards should be improved and law enforcement supervision should be strictly enforced. At the same time, we will strengthen supervision and inspection of the implementation of plastic pollution control, include key issues in the central ecological and environmental protection supervision, and strengthen assessment and accountability.

Liu Jianguo reminded that we must prevent low-end plastic products from being transferred from economically developed areas to backward areas, and from areas with strong regulatory and utilization capabilities to areas with weak regulatory and utilization capabilities.

"When it comes to specific implementation, it will be a challenge for the government's ability to fine-tune management and overall coordination, and for the green development capabilities of enterprises in the process of transformation and upgrading." Liu Jianguo said that the implementation of the new "plastic restriction order" cannot be "one size fits all", but must be promoted with precise policies based on local conditions. (Reporter Xiong Li)

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