China

Prevention and reduction of plastic waste generation

Charge for single-use plastic products (e.g. shopping bags, straws)

Opinions on Further Strengthening Plastic Pollution Control

Targeted products:

Plastic bags, foam plastic tableware, plastic cotton swabs, and so on.

Brief description:

By the end of 2020, non-degradable single-use plastic straws had been banned in restaurants nationwide; non-degradable single-use plastic tableware had been prohibited for catering services in built-up areas and scenic spots in cities above the prefecture level; by the end of 2022, the use of non-degradable single-use plastic tableware will be prohibited for catering services in built-up areas and scenic spots in county towns; by 2025, the consumption of non-degradable single-use plastic tableware for restaurants and delivery will be reduced by 30% in cities above the prefecture level.

We see a positive improvement from last two years

Actions for encouraging sustainable / circular product design

1.Opinions on Further Strengthening Plastic Pollution Control

2.The 14^th Five-year Plan for the Development of Circular Economy

Brief description:

1. Plastic manufacturers shall strictly implement national laws and regulations, enable their plastic products to meet national standards, and shall not illegally add chemical additives that are harmful to the human body and environment. Green designs are encouraged to improve the safety and recycling of plastic products. Moreover, new green and environmentally friendly materials are also encouraged, the use of recycled plastics that meet quality control standards and use control requirements will increase, and the research and development of recyclable, easily recyclable, and degradable alternative materials and products will be strengthened.

The resource utilization of plastic wastes in a standard, centralized, and industrialized manner will be promoted. Related projects shall be implemented mainly in resource recycling bases and other parks to improve the resource utilization of plastic wastes. More efforts shall be made to promote the energy-oriented utilization for the plastic wastes that feature a high sorting cost and are not suitable for resource utilization. The operational management of enterprises such as waste-to-energy power plants shall be strengthened to ensure a stable and up-to-standard discharge of various pollutants and to minimize the amount of plastic wastes that are directly landfilled.

2. On July 7, 2021, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) of People’s Republic of China released the 14^th Five-year Plan for the Development of Circular Economy . According to the Plan, the circular economy will be developed by saving resources and intensive resource utilization in a resource recycling-based industry system and waste recycling system during the 14th Five-Year Plan period. By 2025, a resource recycling-based industry system will be basically established and a resource recycling system covering the entire society will be basically completed. By then, resource utilization efficiency will be substantially improved, and the replacement ratio of renewable resources to primary resources will be further increased.

According to the Plan, China is expected to roll out up to 11 key projects or actions, including the Special Campaign on Full Lifecycle Management of Plastic Pollution , which aims to prevent and reduce plastic wastes.

We see a positive improvement from last two years

Regulation on microplastics

Opinions on Further Strengthening Plastic Pollution Control

Brief description:

By the end of 2020, the production of daily chemical products containing plastic microbeads had been prohibited; by the end of 2022, the sale of daily chemical products containing plastic microbeads will be prohibited.

Researches on the pollution mechanism, monitoring, prevention, and control technologies and policies of plastic wastes and microplastics in rivers, lakes, and seas will be strengthened, and the assessment on ecological environmental impacts and human health risks caused by microplastics will be carried out in the coming years.

We see a positive improvement from last two years

Measures

Achievements

Environmentally sound waste management

Enforcement of proper waste management system

Opinions on Further Strengthening Plastic Pollution Control

Brief description:

Under the garbage sorting and classification system, more work shall be done to classify, collect, and treat plastic wastes. A ban on random stacking and dumping of plastic wastes shall be implemented to avoid pollution. For office buildings, airports, stations, ports, and other places where large amounts of plastic wastes are generated, more disposal facilities shall be built and more garbage removals shall be completed. Multi-party cooperation among catering and food delivery platforms, environmental sanitation departments, recycling companies shall be promoted, with delivery packages, takeaway lunch boxes, and other recycling facilities setting up in key areas. Establish and improve a system for the recycling of waste agricultural films. The recycling and disposal of waste fishing nets and fishing gears shall be regulated.

We see a positive improvement from last two years

Prevention of littering, illegal dumping and unintentional leakage of waste into the ocean

Opinions on Further Strengthening Plastic Pollution Control

Brief description:

The inspection and rectification of informal storage and dumping stations of domestic wastes will be carried out. Efforts shall be made to deal with plastic pollution caused by random dumping of domestic wastes in urban and rural areas, environmentally sensitive areas, roads and rivers, and pits and ditches. Operations to clean up plastic garbage in rivers, lakes, and harbors and clean beaches will be carried out. The cleaning and remediation of residual mulch film on farmland, plastic packaging of pesticides, and fertilizers will be promoted to gradually reduce the amount of such films.

☐No

We see a positive improvement from last two years

Measures

Achievements

Cleanup of marine plastic litter

Collection of scattered waste on beach

Opinions on Further Strengthening Plastic Pollution Control

Brief description:

The special cleanup of plastic wastes is carried out. The inspection and rectification of informal storage and dumping stations of domestic wastes shall be on fast track, focusing on plastic pollution caused by random dumping of domestic wastes in urban and rural areas, environmentally sensitive areas, roads and rivers, and pits and ditches. Operations to clean up plastic garbage in rivers, lakes and harbors and clean beaches are performed. The cleaning and remediation of residual mulch film on farmland, plastic packaging of pesticides, and fertilizers will be promoted to gradually reduce the amount of such films..

We see a positive improvement from last two years

Removal of plastic litter from the ocean

Opinions on Further Strengthening Plastic Pollution Control

Brief description:

The departments of ecological and environmental protection along coastal areas shall take the lead in cleaning marine litter and debris, and to take various actions to prevent marine litters effectively.

We see a positive improvement from last two years

Measures

Achievements

Promotion of innovative solutions

Policy actions for encouraging plastic alternatives (e.g. biodegradable plastics, circular product design – including use of recycled materials or closed loop recycling and so on)

Opinions on Further Strengthening Plastic Pollution Control

Brief description:

Recyclable and foldable packaging products and logistics and distribution equipment will be promoted actively. Relevant enterprises are encouraged to build a multiple-platform operation system for recyclable packaging by equity cooperation, joint capitals, and other means. Enterprises are encouraged to use integrated packaging of goods and logistics, under a recycling system for recyclable logistics distribution equipment.

We see a positive improvement from last two years

Public-private partnerships for creating and implementing innovative solution

Opinions on Further Strengthening Plastic Pollution Control

Brief description:

Plastic products manufacturers should promote green design to improve the safety and recycling of plastic products. Moreover, new green and environmentally friendly materials are also encouraged, the use of recycled plastics that meet quality control standards and use control requirements will increase, and the research and development of recyclable, easily recyclable, and degradable alternative materials and products will be strengthened. Develop a replacement plan for the reduction of single-use plastic products. Strengthen the management of registered merchants in e-commerce, food delivery, and other platform enterprises, with green supply chains being promoted.

Measures

Achievements

Education and awareness raising

Education system for encouraging public awareness on MPL issues

In primary and middle schools, lessons about the classification of garbage, including plastic wastes, are opened to raise public awareness on wastes management and recycling.

We see a positive improvement from last two years

Awareness raising campaigns related to MPL

National level:

Opinions on Further Strengthening Plastic Pollution Control

Brief description:

Reinforce the publicity of plastic pollution control, guide the public to reduce the use of disposable plastic products and participate in garbage classification, and avoid excessive packaging. Make use of newspapers, radios and televisions, new media, and other channels in deepened publicity of the effectiveness and typical practices of plastic pollution control. Guide industry associations, business groups, and charity organizations to conduct professional seminars and voluntary activities in an orderly manner, build a consensus, and to create a good atmosphere for the participation of the whole society.

Supported by non-governmental organizations and environmental protection volunteers, marine plastic survey and cleaning activities shall become a norm, playing an active role in preventing land-based garbage from entering the sea. Use newspapers, televisions, the Internet, and other media to promote the prevention of marine plastic pollution by strengthening public education and other methods, also raise the public’s awareness on prevention and control of marine plastic pollution.

Local level:

Clean Beach Action and Education in Coastal Cities of China

Brief description:

Founded in 2003, Dalian Municipal Environmental Protection Volunteers Association is committed to the publicity, education, and public participation of marine litter. At present, the association has 125 member units and more than 12,000 registered volunteers. The association has organized 32 large publicity activities and nearly one thousand activities throughout the year, with nearly 200,000 brochures of marine conservation being issued. Its publicity for marine conversation has reached over one million people and its cleanup activities for marine litters have seen participation of 200,000 person times.

From 2009 to 2019, the Blue Ribbon Ocean Conservation Association has been carrying out publicity, education, and public participation on marine litters. This association has a total of 128 member units and nearly 100,000 registered volunteers. In 2019, the association organized 798 publicity activities on marine litters, distributed 68,000 copies of publicity materials, publicized marine protection to more than 7.114 million people. A total of 317,300 volunteers have participated in marine litter cleanup activities, 38.49 tons of litters on the beach and 0.25 tons of litters on the seabed were cleaned up.

International / Regional level:

International Coastal Cleanup

Brief description:

In 2020, the national beach clean public welfare activity, themed “guarding the beautiful coastline and acting together” and hosted by the China Oceanic Development Foundation, was held in 27 coastal cities in China. More than 300 related organizations and more than 10,000 volunteers have participated in the activity, with coverages by nearly 150 media. This activity was strongly supported by the authorities of the coastal cities. Four local marine charity organizations hosted the beach cleanup activities in four main venues, and 24 local marine charity organizations hosted the activities in 23 sub-venues.

National level:

We see a positive improvement from last two years

Local level:

We see a positive improvement from last two years

Measures

Achievements

Monitoring & Scientific research on marine plastic litter

Actions for encouraging monitoring / scientific research on plastic flows and ocean surface microplastics

National Marine Litter and Microplastics Monitoring Programme

2.Scientific Research on Monitoring and Ecological Effect Assessment of Marine Microplastics

Brief description:

1.The routine monitoring of China’s national marine litter has been under way since 2007, covering beach, seawater, and seafloor litters. The routine monitoring of floating microplastics in coastal waters has been going on since 2016. The monitoring results have been published in Bulletin of Marine Ecological and Environmental Status of China every year.

2. The number of Chinese academic papers on microplastics as of 2015 accounted for 17% of the world’s total. The National Key Research & Development Program-Marine Microplastics Monitoring and Ecological Environmental Effect Assessment Technology Research was launched by the Ministry of Science and Technology in 2016, focusing on marine microplastics pollution monitoring, source analysis, ecological effects, and source control.

We see a positive improvement from last two years