Endless amounts of untreated plastic waste have taken over rivers and over-loaded landfills. The United Nations has acknowledged single-use plastics as one of the world’s biggest environmental challenges. Thankfully, China has recognized the plastic waste problem and is putting restrictions on the production, sale, and use of single-use plastic products.
According to “Our World in Data” from the University of Oxford, China produced around 66 million tons of plastic waste in 2010. Since China’s population is so massive, the waste has become a significant problem for its environment and infrastructure, polluting its rivers and overwhelming its landfills. China’s Yangtze River dumps more waste into the oceans than any river in the whole world, and its most massive dump is about the size of 100 soccer fields and is already at its capacity.
The policy, which will be implemented over the next five years, was issued by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment and the national development and reform commission. The policy states that by the end of 2020, all plastic bags would be banned in all of China’s major cities and by 2022 will be banned in all cities and towns. Until 2025, markets selling fresh produce will be excused from the ban. Other plastic items such as takeaway food containers, utensils, and plastic packages will also be phased out.
The restaurant industry will also be prohibited from using single-use straws by the end of 2020. By 2025, cities and towns across the nation must reduce the use of single-use plastic items in the restaurant industry by 30%. Sale and production of plastic bags less than 0.025mm thick will also be banned, along with agricultural plastic film less than 0.01mm thick. Furthermore, hotels are told not to give out free plastic items after 2025.
The commission said it was enacting the policy to protect public health and “to build a beautiful China.” The government also plans to work on developing recycling programs and encourage the use of recycled plastics.
China banned the import of foreign plastic back in 2007, and then in 2008, they prohibited retailers from handing out plastic bags free of charge and banned the production of very thin plastic bags.
Each year, about 8 million metric tons of plastic enter the world’s oceans, where they threaten marine life. China is the leading contributor to this plastic waste, which is why they are now forced to make moves to do something about it.
However, China is not the only country in Asia that are taking steps to combat the problem. Thailand already banned plastic bags at major stores in January 2020, with a complete ban across the entire nation by 2021. Bali, an Indonesian island, also banned single-use plastics, and the capital, Jakarta, will ban plastic bags by June 2020.
