Towards Osaka Blue Ocean Vision - G20 Implementation Framework for Actions on Marine Plastic Litter

China

Actions and Progress on Marine Plastic Litter
Last Update : 2024/09/20

 

Policy Framework

National Action Plan

Name(Year):

  1. Opinions on Further Strengthening Plastic Pollution Control (2020) 1
  2. Plastic Pollution Control Action Plan (2021-2025)2

Brief description:
1. China issued the Opinions on Further Strengthening Plastic Pollution Control, which put forward positive response to plastic pollution, orderly prohibited or restricted from part of the plastic products production, sale and use, actively promoted substitutes for plastic products, increased the supply of green products, developed robust plastic waste recycling system, established and perfected the system of management of each link. We will take strong, orderly and effective measures to control plastic pollution. The main objectives are to take the lead in banning and restricting the production, sales, and use of some plastic products in specific regions and areas.
By 2022, the consumption of single-use plastic products tend to be significantly reduced, substitute products will be promoted, and the proportion of plastic waste resources and energy utilization will be significantly increased; in the areas with prominent problems of plastic pollution such as e-commerce, express delivery, and takeaway, a number of reproducible and scalable plastic reduction and green logistics models are developed. By 2025, the management system for the production, distribution, consumption, recycling, and disposal of plastic products will be basically established, and a multiple governance system will be basically built. The capability of development and practices for substitute products will be further improved. The amount of plastic waste in key cities will be significantly reduced, and plastic pollution will be effectively controlled.

2. China issued the Plastic Pollution Control Action Plan (2021-2025) to further strengthen the whole chain control of plastic pollution and promote the white pollution control to achieve greater results during the 14th Five-Year Plan period. By 2025, the plastic pollution control mechanism will operate more effectively, the responsibilities of local governments, departments and enterprises will be effectively implemented, governance of plastic whole-chain covering production, circulation, consumption, recycling and end disposal will be more effective, and white pollution will be effectively curbed. In terms of source reduction, the irrational use of disposable plastic products in key areas such as commodity retail, e-commerce, takeout, express delivery, accommodation will be greatly reduced, the e-commerce express will be basically realized no secondary packaging, and the application scale of recyclable express packaging has reached 10 million. In terms of recycling and disposal, cities at prefecture level and above have basically established domestic waste classification, delivery, transportation and treatment systems according to local conditions, and the collection and transfer efficiency of plastic waste has been greatly improved; the incineration capacity of municipal solid waste in China will reach about 800000 tons/day, and the direct landfill volume of plastic waste will be greatly reduced; the recovery rate of agricultural film will reach 85%, and the residue of plastic film in China will achieve zero growth. In terms of waste removal, the historical plastic waste left over open in key water areas, key tourist attractions and rural areas will be basically eliminated. The leakage of plastic waste to the natural environment will be effectively controlled.

1:https://www.mee.gov.cn/xxgk2018/xxgk/xxgk10/202001/t20200120_760495.html
2:https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2021-09/16/content_5637606.htm

Legal Framework

Name(Year):

  1. Marine Environment Protection Law of the People's Republic of China (2023 Amendment) 3
  2. Law of the People’s Republic of China on Prevention and Control of Environmental Pollution by Solid Waste (2020 Amendment) 4
  3. Circular Economy Promotion Law of the People's Republic of China (2018 Amendment) 5

Brief description:
1. The Marine Environment Protection Law of the People’s Republic of China was amended, formulating that coastal local governments shall be responsible for the prevention and control of marine litter pollution in the sea areas under their administration, establish a system for monitoring and cleaning up marine litter, coordinate the planning and construction of land-based facilities for receiving, transferring and treating marine litter, specify the areas for management and control of marine litter by relevant departments, township, sub-district, enterprises and public institutions, establish and organize the implementation of a system for monitoring, intercepting, collecting, salvaging, transporting and treating marine litter and take effective measures to encourage and support public participation in the above activities.

2. The Law on Prevention and Control of Environmental Pollution by Solid Waste was amended to identify the responsibilities of competent departments and local governments, improve the system for the prevention and control of solid waste pollution, and strengthen supervision and implementation of responsibilities.

3. The Circular Economy Promotion Law of the People's Republic of China is formulated for the purpose of facilitating circular economy, raising resources utilization rate, protecting and improving environment and realizing sustained development. The Law aims to achieve sustainable development by raising resource utilization rate and increasing resource recovery in production, circulation, and consumption.

3: https://www.mee.gov.cn/ywgz/fgbz/fl/202310/t20231025_1043942.shtml
4:https://www.mee.gov.cn/ywgz/fgbz/fl/202004/t20200430_777580.shtml
5:https://www.mee.gov.cn/ywgz/fgbz/fl/201811/t20181114_673624.shtml

Indicators and/or Targets

  1. ■ Plastic recycling:
    Indicators:
    Targets (if any):
    By 2022, the proportion of resourceful energy utilization of plastic waste will be substantially increased. By 2025, management systems for the production, circulation, consumption and recycling and disposal of plastic products will have been basically established, and the efficiency of plastic waste collection and transfer will have been greatly improved; the recovery rate of agricultural films will reach 85%.
  2. ■ Plastic use reduction:
    Indicators:
    Targets (if any):
    By 2020, take the lead in banning and restricting the production, sale and use of some plastic products in some areas and some fields; ban the production and sale of disposable foamed plastic tableware and disposable plastic swabs; and ban the production of daily chemical products containing plastic microbeads.
     
    By 2022, the consumption of disposable plastic products will be significantly reduced; the sale of daily chemical products containing plastic microbeads shall be prohibited; and a number of replicable and scalable models of plastic reduction and green logistics will be formed in areas with prominent plastic pollution problems and in emerging areas such as e-commerce, express delivery and takeaway.
     
    By 2025, the intensity of consumption of non-biodegradable disposable plastic tableware in the catering takeaway sector in cities at the prefecture level or above will be reduced by 30%, and all hotels and guest houses nationwide will no longer actively provide disposable plastic products.
  3. ■ Plastic to alternatives, such as glass, paper or bioplastics:
    Indicators:
    Targets (if any):
    By 2022, alternative products will be promoted; the use of non-biodegradable plastic bags will be banned in shopping malls, supermarkets and other places in the built-up areas of cities at or above the prefecture level and in the built-up areas of counties in coastal areas, and the use of non-biodegradable plastic bags will be regulated and restricted in the marketplaces; the use of non-degradable disposable plastic tableware is prohibited in catering and dine-in services in the built-up areas of counties and scenic spots.
    By the end of 2025, the use of non-biodegradable plastic bags will be prohibited in the marketplaces of the above areas; the intensity of consumption of non-degradable disposable plastic tableware in the in the field of food and beverage takeaway in cities at or above the prefecture level will be reduced by 30%; the use of non-biodegradable plastic bags, plastic tapes, disposable plastic woven bags, etc., will be prohibited in postal express outlets nationwide, basic e-commerce express shipments will be no longer packaged twice, and the scale of application of recyclable express packaging will reach 10 million units.
  4. ■ Plastic leakage:
    Indicators:
    Targets (if any):
    By 2025, the incineration treatment capacity of urban domestic waste nationwide will reach about 800,000 ton/day, the amount of plastic waste directly land-filled will be significantly reduced, and plastic pollution will be effectively controlled; the amount of ground film residue nationwide will achieve zero growth. The historical open-air plastic waste in key water areas, key tourist attractions and rural areas will be basically cleared. The leakage of plastic waste into the natural environment will be effectively controlled. Urge ships to collect, transfer and dispose of ship waste, including plastic waste, in strict accordance with relevant laws and regulations.
  5. ■ Beach Cleanup:
    Indicators:
    Targets (if any):
    Action Plan for Marine Litter Cleanup in Coastal Cities (2024-2027)6 promote coastal cities and counties to establish a long-term mechanism for cleaning up marine plastic litter, and keep key coastal areas free of obvious plastic waste. Since 2024, 65 bays adjacent to the built-up areas of cities and towns along the coast of the country will continue to carry out dragnet marine litter clean-up operations. By the end of 2027, the density of marine litter in the 65 bays will have decreased significantly, reaching clean levels on a regular basis. The long-term mechanism for the comprehensive management of marine litter will be basically established including ‘on-shore management, watershed interception and sea surface cleaning.
  6. ■ Ghost Fishing Gear recovery:
    Indicators:
    Targets (if any):
    Regulate the recycling and disposal of used fishing nets and gear.

Brief description:

  1. Plastic recycling: In conjunction with the implementation of waste classification, increase the collection and treatment of plastic waste and other recyclables. Promote multi-party co-operation among e-commerce takeaway platforms, sanitation departments and recycling enterprises, and place recycling facilities for express packaging and takeaway boxes in key areas. Establish and improve a recycling system for used agricultural films.
  2. Plastic use reduction: The production and sale of ultra-thin plastic shopping bags with a thickness of less than 0.025 mm and polyethylene agricultural film with a thickness of less than 0.01 mm are prohibited. Prohibit the manufacture of plastic products using medical waste as raw materials. Comprehensively ban the import of waste plastics. Actively promote the green design of plastic products. Strengthen law enforcement and supervision of excessive packaging of commodities.
  3. Plastic to alternatives, such as glass, paper or bioplastics: In shopping malls, supermarkets, pharmacies, bookstores and other places, promote the use of environmentally friendly cloth bags, paper bags and other non-plastic products and biodegradable shopping bags, and encourage the setting up of self-service, intelligent delivery devices to facilitate the lives of the masses. Promote the use of biodegradable packaging film (bags) for fresh products. Establish a centralized shopping bag purchasing and sale system in the markets. Promote the use of bio-based products such as straw-coated lunch boxes and alternative products such as biodegradable plastic bags in the field of food and beverage takeaways that meet performance and food safety requirements. In key mulching areas, promote biodegradable film on a large scale in conjunction with agronomic measures.
  4. Plastic leakage: It is prohibited to pile and dump plastic waste at random and pollution. In office buildings, airports, stations, ports and other places with a large amount of plastic waste generation, it is necessary to increase the number of drop-off facilities and the frequency of removal. Improve the level of resource utilization of plastic waste. Plastic waste that has high sorting costs and is not suitable for resource utilization shall be promoted for energy utilization, and the operation and management of enterprises such as waste incineration and power generation shall be strengthened to ensure that all types of pollutants are discharged in a stable and compliant manner, and to minimize the amount of plastic waste directly land-filled. Accelerate the investigation and rectification of informal piling points and dumping points of domestic waste, focus on solving the problem of plastic pollution caused by random dumping and piling of domestic waste in urban and rural areas, environmentally sensitive areas, roads and rivers, pits, ponds, ditches and other places. Promote the clean-up and remediation of residual film and plastic packaging of pesticides and fertilizers in agricultural fields, and gradually reduce the amount of residual film in agricultural fields.
    Cracking down on the illegal discharge of waste from ships in accordance with the law, and promote the effective connection between port receiving facilities and urban public transfer and disposal facilities.
  5. Beach Cleanup: Carry out plastic litter clean-up in rivers, lakes, harbours and bays and beach cleaning actions. Conduct Marine plastic litter and microplastics monitoring surveys. Implement special clean-ups of plastic litter in bays, estuaries, beaches and other areas, promote coastal cities and counties to establish a long-term mechanism for the marine plastic litter clean-up, and keep key coastal areas free of obvious plastic litter. Increase waste collection facilities at beaches and other places of activity, and improve the frequency of waste removal. Organize research on mechanisms, monitoring and prevention techniques for plastic waste and microplastic pollution in rivers, lakes and seas.
  6. Ghost Fishing Gear recovery: Support and guide the relevant responsible parties to actively carry out the recycling of waste agricultural and fishery materials such as fishing nets and gear. Several opinions on accelerating the green development of aquaculture7 proposed to remove illegal net pen aquaculture facilities in accordance with the law. Strengthen the management of aquaculture waste and promote the centralized collection and resource utilization of aquaculture production by-products and waste such as shells, net clothes and floats. Rectify the foam floats used in offshore raft and cage aquaculture, promote environmentally friendly floats of new materials, and endeavour to control white pollution. Strengthen the comprehensive remediation of waste after the removal of net pen and enclosures.

7:https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2019-10/22/content_5443445.htm

Technical Standards, Guidelines and Methodologies

Topics:
■ waste management

  1. Technical specification for pollution control of plastic waste8 , 2022
  2. Guidelines for Monitoring and Evaluation of Marine Litter (Trial), 2024
  3. Technical Specification for Monitoring Marine Microplastics (Trial), 2023

Brief description:

  1. The 2022 Technical Specification strengthens the whole life-cycle management of waste plastics and environmental risk prevention and control requirements. specifies the pollution control and environmental management requirements for the processes of waste plastics generation, collection, transportation, storage, pretreatment, recycling and disposal; adapts to the development needs of the waste plastics recycling industry; defines the requirements for chemical recycling pollution control; promotes the application of advanced recycling technology and the large-scale development of chemical recycling projects; and promotes the resource utilization of waste plastics.
  2. The 2024 Guidelines specify the basic requirements for monitoring methods, classification standards, data processing, monitoring quality assurance and analysis and evaluation of marine litter.
  3. The 2022 Technical Specification specifies the collection of microplastic samples in the marine environment, sample preservation, data processing and other methods.

8:https://www.mee.gov.cn/ywgz/fgbz/bz/bzwb/gthw/qtxgbz/202206/t20220607_984652.shtml

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Measures

Measures across Value Chain
  • Actions for encouraging sustainable / circular product design
  • Policy actions for encouraging plastic alternatives, recycled materials at production stage.
  • Steps taken towards restricting microplastics in products.
  • Reduce single-use plastic (shopping bags, straws etc.) by regulations or voluntary measures
  • Introduce Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
  • Improve waste management and recycling system
  • Promoting plastic waste re-use, recycling and recovery opportunities
  • Install capturing trap/filter on drainage/river
  • Conduct clean-up activities in rivers/ wetlands/ beaches/ coasts/ coral reefs/ sea floor, involving local communities involving local communities
    • Product Specific Measures: ALDFG
  • Taken/to be taken National Level Action and/or Community Level Action on Clean sea initiatives including ghost net retrieval, ocean-bound plastics etc.
  • Taken actions for preventing abandoned, lost and discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) being generated.
  • Created/creating collection/recycling mechanism for ALDFG
    • Partnership and Innovation
  • Boost multi-stakeholder involvement and awareness-raising
  • Encourage/ Incentivize action by private sector companies to reduce/ sustainably manage their plastic waste.
  • Encourage public awareness on MPL issues through formal education system and/or curriculum for
  • Promote innovative solutions through Research & Development
    • Monitoring, Data Management, Understanding Flow of Plastics/MPL
  • Conduct Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of plastic products. What are the challenges if LCA is not conducted?
  • Conduct Material Flow Analysis (MFA) on plastics. What are the challenges if MFA is not conducted?
  • Conduct monitoring / estimation / scientific research on leakage of plastics/microplastics to the natural environment and/or flow of ocean surface. What are the challenges if these actions are not conducted?
    • International Collaboration
  • Participate in international cooperation through international
  • Support target region by your international cooperation initiatives/projects: South, Central and Southeast Asia
    • Measures across Value Chain
    Actions for encouraging sustainable / circular product design (example: improved durability, reparability, recyclability, reduction of material use per product…etc.) Yes

    Specific Measures:

    1. Opinions on Further Strengthening Plastic Pollution Control (2020)
    2. Development of Circular Economy Plan (2021-2025) 9
    3. Plastic Pollution Control Action Plan (2021-2025)
    4. Notice of the General Office of the State Council on Further Strengthening the Control of Excessive Packaging of Commodities (2022) 10

    Brief description:

    1. Plastic manufacturers must strictly implement national laws and regulations. All plastic products must meet national standards, and chemical additives that are harmful to the human body and environment are banned to add. Green designs are encouraged to improve the safety and recycling performance of plastic products. Moreover, new green and environmentally friendly functional materials are also attractive, and 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.
       
      At the same time, the standardization, centralization, and industrialization of the resource utilization of plastic waste will be promoted, and related projects would be concentrated in resource recycling bases and other parks to improve the level of plastic waste resource utilization. Plastic waste with high sorting costs which is unsuitable for resource utilization, would be promoted for energy utilization. The operation and management of enterprises would be strengthened to ensure the stable and up-to-standard discharge of various pollutants and minimize the amount of plastic waste directly land-filled.
    2. In July 2021, the National Development and Reform Commission issued the Development of Circular Economy Plan (2021-2025). According to the plan, during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, great efforts will be made to develop a circular economy, promote the economical and intensive use of resources, build a resource-recycling industrial system and a recycling system of waste materials. By 2025, a resource recycling 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 Action on Whole Chain Treatment of Plastic Pollution, which aims to implementing prevention and reduction of plastic waste generation.
    3. Actively promote green design of plastic products. Focusing on disposable plastic products, formulate relevant standards for green design, optimize product structure design, reduce the complexity of product material design, and enhance the ease of recycling of plastic products. Prohibit the production of ultra-thin plastic shopping bags with a thickness of less than 0.025 mm, polyethylene agricultural mulch films with a thickness of less than 0.01 mm, and daily chemical products containing plastic microbeads and other products that endanger the environment and human health.
    4. Strengthen technological innovation in the field of packaging. Promote packaging enterprises to provide reasonable designed, material saving, convenient recycling, economical and applicable packaging overall solutions. Independently research and develop low-gram weight, high-strength and functional packaging materials and their production equipment and innovate and develop integrated packaging products for commodities and express delivery. Give full play to the role of packaging enterprises as a bridge in promoting simple packaging and rational consumption, and promote the practice of simplicity and moderation in packaging design, commodity production and other upstream and downstream links.

    9:https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2021-07/07/content_5623077.htm
    10:http://www.gov.cn/zhengce/content/2022-09/08/content_5708858.htm

    Back to "Measures" top
    Policy actions for encouraging plastic alternatives, recycled materials at production stage. Yes

    Specific Measures:
    ■ Use of biodegradable plastics
    ■ Use of recycled materials
    ■ Others:

    1. Opinions on Further Strengthening Plastic Pollution Control (2020)
    2. Plastic Pollution Control Action Plan (2021-2025)

    Brief description:

    1. Promote the use of alternative products. In shopping malls, supermarkets, pharmacies, bookstores and other places, promote the use of environmentally friendly cloth bags, paper bags and other non-plastic products and biodegradable shopping bags. Promote the use of biodegradable packaging film (bags) for fresh products. Promote the use of bio-based products such as straw-coated lunch boxes and alternative products such as biodegradable plastic bags in the field of food and beverage takeaways that meet performance and food safety requirements. In key mulching areas, promote biodegradable film on a large scale in conjunction with agronomic measures. Actively adopt new green functional materials, increase the use of recycled plastics that meet quality control standards and usage control requirements, strengthen the research and development of recyclable, easy-to-recycle and biodegradable alternative materials and products, reduce application costs, and effectively increase the supply of green products.
    2. Scientifically and steadily promote plastic substitute products. Fully consider the environmental impact of the whole life-cycle resources such as bamboo and wood products, paper products, and degradable plastic products, and improve the quality and food safety standards of relevant products. Carry out research on the degradation mechanism and impact of different types of degradable plastics, and scientifically evaluate their environmental safety and controllability. Improve the standard system, issue biodegradable plastics standards, standardize the use fields, and clarify the degradation conditions and disposal methods. Increase transformation of key core technology research and achievement of degradable plastics, continuously improve product quality and performance, and reduce application costs. Promote the orderly development of biodegradable plastics industry, guide the rational layout of the industry. Accelerate the scientific research and use of biodegradable agricultural film. Strengthen the capacity building of degradable plastics testing and standardize the order of the industry.
    Steps taken towards restricting microplastics in products. Yes

    Specific Measures:
    Targeted Products
    ■ Cosmetics and Personal Care Products
    ■ Others

    1. Opinions on Further Strengthening Plastic Pollution Control (2020)
    2. Plastic Pollution Control Action Plan (2021-2025)

    Brief description:

    1. By the end of 2020, the production of daily chemical products with plastic microbeads will be banned. By the end of 2022, the sale of daily chemical products containing plastic microbeads will be prohibited.
    2. Prohibit the production of some products that jeopardize the environment and human health, such as daily chemical products containing plastic microbeads.

    Back to "Measures" top
    Reduce single-use plastic (shopping bags, straws etc.) by regulations or voluntary measures (such as ban, levy, others) Yes

    ■ Regulatory Measures (ex: production ban, Ban on use..etc)

    1. Opinions on Further Strengthening Plastic Pollution Control (2020)
    2. Work Plan for Plastic Pollution Control in the Civil Aviation Industry (2021-2025) 11

    Brief description:

    1. By the end of 2020, the production and sale of disposable foam plastic tableware and disposable plastic swabs would be banned. The nationwide catering industry would prohibit the use of non-degradable disposable plastic straws; the use of non-degradable disposable plastic tableware would be prohibited for catering and dining services in urban built-up areas and scenic spots at or above the prefecture level; non-degradable plastic bags would be prohibited from being used in shopping malls, supermarkets, pharmacies, bookstores, and food and beverage packaging and delivery services in some urban built-up areas. By the end of 2022, star-rated hotels and guesthouses nationwide will no longer actively provide single-use plastic products; by the end of 2025, the implementation will be extended to all hotels, guesthouses and B&Bs.
      By the end of 2022, postal express outlets in Beijing, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong and other provinces and cities will first prohibit the use of non-biodegradable plastic packaging bags, disposable plastic woven bags, etc., and reduce the use of non-biodegradable plastic tape. By the end of 2025, the use of non-degradable plastic packaging bags, plastic tapes, disposable plastic woven bags, etc. will be banned at postal express outlets nationwide.
    2. From 2022, the provision of single-use non-degradable plastic straws, cutlery and bags will be banned in airports and domestic passenger flights with an annual passenger throughput of 2 million passengers or more, and the implementation will be further extended to national airports and international passenger flights from 2023.

    ■ Economic Measures (levy, tax, subsidies…etc.)
    Notice on restricting the production and sale of plastic shopping bags12

    Brief description:
    Since June 1, 2008, in all supermarkets, shopping malls, marketplaces and other commodity retail establishments have implemented the system of paying for the use of plastic shopping bags and no free plastic shopping bags are allowed. Commodity retail establishments must clearly mark the price of plastic shopping bags, charge for plastic shopping bags in addition to the price of goods and should not provide plastic shopping bags free of charge or include them in the total price of commodities.

    ■ Informational Measures (guideline, standards…etc.)

    1. 1.Opinions on Further Strengthening Plastic Pollution Control (2020)
    2. Plastic Pollution Control Action Plan (2021-2025)

    Brief description:

    1. Improve quality control standards for recycled plastics and regulate the use of recycled plastics. Formulate and revise standard labels for degradable materials and products. Establish and improve green management and evaluation standards for enterprises in emerging fields such as e-commerce, express delivery and takeaway. Study the graded evaluation of packaging suitability for commodities with outstanding packaging problems, and put forward differentiated management measures. Incorporate the requirements for the control of disposable plastic products into the evaluation and rating standards for tourist attractions and star-rated hotels and restaurants. Improve the environmental protection-related standards for the resourceful and energy-oriented utilization of plastic waste.
    2. Focusing on disposable plastic products, formulate standards related to green design. Fully consider the environmental impact of the whole life-cycle resources such as bamboo and wood products, paper products, and degradable plastic products, and improve the quality and food safety standards of relevant products. Issue biodegradable plastics standards, standardize the use fields, and clarify the degradation conditions and disposal methods. Improve standards for recycled plastics, accelerate the promotion and application of advanced and applicable technologies and equipment for the recycling and utilization of waste plastics, and encourage the utilization of plastic wastes in the same level and with high added value.

    11:https://www.gov.cn/xinwen/2021-05/26/content_5612499.htm
    12:http://www.gov.cn/zhuanti/2015-06/13/content_2879030.htm

    Back to "Measures" top
    Introduce Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) -
    Improve waste management and recycling system Yes

    Specific Measures:

    1. Opinions on Further Strengthening Plastic Pollution Control
    2. Plastic Pollution Control Action Plan (2021-2025)
    3. Several Opinions on Further Promoting the Work of Separating Domestic Waste13
    4. Notice on Further Strengthening the Construction and Management of Rural Domestic Waste Collection and Disposal System14

    Brief description:

    1. To combine with the implementation of waste classification, the classified collection, and treatment of plastic waste and other recyclables will be increased. At the same time, random stacking and dumping causing plastic waste pollution will be prohibited strictly. In places where large amounts of plastic waste are generated, such as office buildings, airports, stations, and ports, it is necessary to increase the delivery facilities and the frequency of removal. Multi-party cooperation among e-commerce takeaway platforms, environmental sanitation departments, recycling companies are promoted, and place delivery packages, takeaway lunch boxes, and other recycling facilities in key areas. The recycling system of the waste agricultural film will be established and improved; the recycling and disposal of waste fishing nets and fishing gear are also performed.
    2. Strengthen the standardised recycling and removal of plastic waste. In conjunction with the classification of household waste, promote the integration of urban recycling outlets with household waste classification outlets and enhance the standardization of plastic waste recycling. Further strengthen the standardised collection of plastic waste in passenger transport such as roads, railways, water transport and civil aviation.
      Establish and improve the collection, transportation and disposal system for plastic waste in rural areas. Improve the system of collecting, transferring and disposing of classified rural domestic waste, build a long-term mechanism for stable operation, strengthen daily supervision. Deepen the implementation of agricultural film recycling action. Carry out action to recycle pesticide packaging. Support and guide relevant responsible entities to actively carry out recycling of waste agricultural and fishery materials such as irrigation implements, fishing nets and fishing gear, and rice seedling trays.
      Increase the recycling of plastic waste. Promote the scale, standardization and clean development of the plastic waste recycling industry. Strengthen the environmental supervision of plastic waste recycling enterprises.
      Upgrade the level of harmless disposal of plastic waste. Comprehensively promote the construction of domestic waste incineration facilities to significantly reduce the amount of plastic waste directly land-filled. Strengthen the comprehensive improvement of existing landfills, enhance the level of operation and management, standardise daily operations, prohibit the arbitrary dumping and storage of domestic waste, and prevent the leakage of historical land-filled plastic waste into the environment.
    3. Upgrade the sorting and treatment capacity. Accelerate the construction of domestic waste classification and treatment facilities. Scientifically estimate the level of local domestic waste output, accelerate the construction of domestic waste incineration and treatment facilities in accordance with the principle of moderate advancement, make up for the shortcomings of food waste and hazardous waste treatment facilities, and carry out pilot market-based models of harmless waste treatment. Promote the transformation and upgrading of the recycling industry and the recovery and recycling of low-value recyclables from urban household waste.
    4. To plan the construction and operation and management of the rural domestic waste collection and disposal system in an integrated manner. Scientifically and reasonably determine the mode of construction of rural domestic waste collection, transportation and disposal systems. Define the layout of rural domestic waste classification, collection, transportation, treatment or resource utilization facilities.
      Promote source separation and resource utilization of rural domestic waste. Strengthen the local treatment and resourceful use of perishable waste, do a good job of recycling recyclables, strengthen the collection, transportation and disposal of hazardous waste, and explore and summarise the rural domestic waste treatment model of sorting, collecting, transporting and disposing of waste in a sorted manner.

    13:https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2021/content_5581078.htm
    14: https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2022/content_5705843.htm

    Promoting plastic waste re-use, recycling and recovery opportunities Yes

    Specific Measures:

    1. Opinions on Further Strengthening Plastic Pollution Control (2020)
    2. Plastic Pollution Control Action Plan (2021-2025)

    Brief description:

    1. In conjunction with the implementation of waste classification, increase the collection and treatment of plastic waste and other recyclables. Promote multi-party co-operation among e-commerce takeaway platforms, sanitation departments and recycling enterprises, and place recycling facilities for express packaging and takeaway boxes in key areas. Establish and improve a recycling system for used agricultural films; Standardize the recycling and disposal of waste fishing nets and gear.
    2. Strengthen the standardised recycling and removal of plastic waste. In conjunction with the classification of household waste, promote the integration of urban recycling outlets with household waste classification outlets and enhance the standardization of plastic waste recycling. Further strengthen the standardised collection of plastic waste in passenger transport such as roads, railways, water transport and civil aviation. Deepen the implementation of agricultural film recycling action. Carry out action to recycle pesticide packaging. Support and guide relevant responsible entities to actively carry out recycling of waste agricultural and fishery materials such as irrigation implements, fishing nets and fishing gear, and rice seedling trays. Increase the recycling of plastic waste. Promote the scale, standardization and clean development of the plastic waste recycling industry. Strengthen the environmental supervision of plastic waste recycling enterprises.

    Back to "Measures" top
    Install capturing trap/filter on drainage/river Yes

    Specific Measures:
    Action Plan for Marine Litter Cleanup in Coastal Cities (2024-2027)

    Brief description:
    On the premise of meeting flood control requirements, the relevant coastal areas shall set up litter interception and collection facilities in rivers, ditches and sluice gates, etc., clean up accumulated litter on a regular basis and improve interception and collection capabilities at end of sea-entry.

    Conduct clean-up activities in rivers/ wetlands/ beaches/ coasts/ coral reefs/ sea floor, involving local communities involving local communities Yes

    Specific Measures:

    1. Action Plan for Marine Litter Cleanup in Coastal Cities (2024-2027)
    2. Special Action Plan for Waste Cleaning Up in Rivers, Lakes and Seas (2022-2023)15
    3. Public beach clean-up operations

    Brief description:

    1. Since 2024, 65 bays adjacent to the built-up areas of cities and towns along the coast of the country will continue to carry out a 3-year comprehensive marine litter clean-up operations.
      Strictly control litter from land-based source into the sea. Relevant coastal municipalities shall strengthen the collection and transfer of litter along bays, ports and terminals, rivers, lakes and reservoirs, depend on the collection and treatment of household waste, the collection and transportation of ship pollutants, and the cleanup of rivers and lakes and reservoirs, link up with marine litter cleanup, reduce the entry of land-based litter into the river and into the sea, and strengthen integrated management of land and sea.
      Timely clean up beach litter and marine floating litter. Relevant coastal municipalities shall take into account local realities, adopt drone inspections, water surface salvage, and beach cleanup to carry out timely salvage and cleanup of beach litter and marine floating litter. As for beach litter, scientifically delineate the responsible beach section for litter cleanup, conduct segmented investigation and timely cleanup, so that there is no litter deposited within the visible beach area. As for marine floating litter, according to the tides and the pattern of litter drift, salvage the key areas prone to litter accumulation, such as concentrated aquaculture areas, tidal gyres, inlets and harbours, and around islands etc., so as to achieve that there is no obvious marine floating litter within the visible range below the coastline. Priority should also be given to the cleanup of beach litter and marine floating litter caused by typhoons and the receding of astronomical high tides in a timely manner.
    2. In 2022, Special Action Plan for Waste Cleaning Up in Rivers, Lakes and Seas was organised and carried out through a one-year dragnet cleaning, transfer and disposal of plastic litter in the rivers, lakes and seas. The stock of plastic litter in the watersheds has been substantially reduced, and plastic litter into rivers, lakes and seas has been effectively controlled.
      Comprehensively promote the clean-up of plastic litter in rivers and lakes. Focusing on important waters like the Yangtze River, Yellow River, Huaihe River, Haihe River, Pearl River, Songhua River, Liaohe River, Taihu Lake, Danjiangkou Reservoir, Three Gorges Reservoir, establish and improve the system of inspection and cleaning, promote the daily cleaning of water surfaces, and clean up floating plastic litter on water surfaces in a timely manner. Strengthen the emergency management of extreme weather and flooding, such as heavy rainfall, and clean up plastic litter washed into rivers in a timely manner.
      Focus on enhancing the clean-up of marine plastic litter. Focusing on 11 bays (bay areas), including Qinhuangdao Bay, continue to strengthen the treatment of marine floating plastic waste. Arrange the time and focus of cleanup reasonably, carry out regular salvage and cleaning in key areas prone to litter accumulation, such as intertidal zones, seawall embankments and concentrated aquaculture areas, salvage and clean the beach and adjacent sea areas regularly, and priority should also be given to the cleanup of beach litter and marine floating litter caused by typhoons and the receding of astronomical high tides in a timely manner. In a year-long dragnet clean-up operation targeting key bays, a total of 188,100 person-times have been deployed to clean up approximately 55,300 tonnes of various types of beach litter and marine floating litter.
    3. Strengthen publicity and education on ocean cleanup, and actively promote public participation in beach cleaning in Dalian, Qingdao, Xiamen, Sanya and other places through the ‘June 5th Environment Day’, ‘June 8th Ocean Day’ and other series of activities, together with the news media and commonweal organization every year.
      The Dalian Environmental Protection Volunteer Association was founded in 2003 and is committed to the development of ecological environmental protection and ecological environmental protection public welfare undertakings. At present, the Association has more than 120 group members, more than 17,700 registered volunteers, organizing an average of more than 10 public welfare activities each year of more than 300 events, with the number of participants of more than 50,000 person-times, to nearly a million of the public to promote the protection of the sea. Among them, it organizes more than 150 marine ecological environmental protection volunteer activities such as marine litter cleanup and publicity every year, with more than 30,000 person-times.
      The Blue Ribbon Ocean Conservation Association was founded in 2007 in Sanya, Hainan Province. It has continuously carried out marine litter publicity, education and public participation since 2009. It has a total of 137 member units, 37 coastal university student volunteer clubs, 11 professional volunteer teams of various types. A total of more than 100,000 volunteers have registered. In 2019, the Blue Ribbon Marine Conservation Association organized 798 marine litter publicity activities of various kinds, distributed 68,000 copies of publicity materials, and promoted marine conservation to more than 7,114,000 members of the public, and 317,300 volunteers participated in marine litter cleanup activities; it cleaned up 38.49 tons of beach litter, and 0.25 tons of seabed litter.

    15:http://fgw.qinghai.gov.cn/zfxxgk/sdzdgknr/fgwwj/202206/t20220623_81738.html

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    Product Specific Measures: ALDFG
    Taken/to be taken National Level Action and/or Community Level Action on Clean sea initiatives including ghost net retrieval, ocean-bound plastics etc. Yes

    Specific Measures:

    1. Opinions on Further Strengthening Plastic Pollution Control (2020)
    2. Plastic Pollution Control Action Plan (2021-2025)
    3. Several opinions on accelerating the green development of aquaculture (2019)
    4. Opinions on strengthening the ecological supervision of mariculture (2022) 16

    Brief description:

    1. Standardize the recycling and disposal of used fishing nets and gears.
    2. support and guide relevant responsible entities to actively carry out the recycling and utilization of waste agricultural and fishery materials such as fishing nets and gears.
    3. Strengthen the management of agricultural waste. Dismantle illegal aquaculture facilities like net-pen and net enclosures in accordance with the law.
    4. The agricultural and rural (fishery) departments at all levels shall guide agricultural entities to collect solid wastes such as plastic litter generated by agricultural activities.

    16:https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2022-01/12/content_5667762.htm
    Taken actions for preventing abandoned, lost and discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) being generated. Yes

    Specific Measures:

    1. Several opinions on accelerating the green development of aquaculture (2019)
    2. Opinions on strengthening the ecological supervision of mariculture (2022)

    Brief description:

    1. Rectify foam floats used in offshore raft and cage aquaculture, promote new materials for environmentally friendly floats, and make efforts to control white pollution. Strengthen the comprehensive remediation of waste after the removal of net-pen and net enclosures. Dismantle illegal aquaculture facilities like net-pen and net enclosures in accordance with the law.
    2. Define ecological and environmental regulatory measures around key issues such as plastic waste in agricultural areas. Ecological and environment departments at all levels shall comprehensively utilize satellite remote sensing, drones and land and shore inspection etc., to increase the surveillance and supervision of the shoreline and ecological impacts on concentrated and continuous aquaculture activities. Strengthen collaboration on marine ecological environmental protection enforcement in respect of mariculture, improve the relevance and timeliness of enforcement, and focus on prominent issues such as the discarding of solid wastes from aquaculture that are identified during inspections, and promote timely solutions to these issues.
    Created/creating collection/recycling mechanism for ALDFG Yes

    Specific Measures:

    1. Opinions on Further Strengthening Plastic Pollution Control (2020)
    2. Plastic Pollution Control Action Plan (2021-2025)
    3. Several opinions on accelerating the green development of aquaculture (2019)
    4. Opinions on strengthening the ecological supervision of mariculture (2022)
    5. Doing a good job of cleaning up and remedying illegal fishing gear in 2019 “clearing the net” action (2019) 17

    Brief description:

    1. Standardize the recycling and disposal of used fishing nets and gears.
    2. Support and guide relevant responsible entities to actively carry out the recycling and utilization of waste agricultural and fishery materials such as fishing nets and gears.
    3. Strengthen the management of aquaculture waste. Promote the centralized collection and resource utilization of shells, nets, floats and other by-products of aquaculture production and waste.
    4. The agricultural and rural (fishery) departments at all levels shall guide agricultural entities to collect solid wastes such as plastic litter generated by agricultural activities.
    5. Give full play to the role of self-restraint and self-management of fishermen's associations, fisheries cooperatives, fishing gear associations, and gradually establish and improve the traceable management system of whole process of fishing nets and gears from production, circulation, use to end-of-life recycling. Encourage fishing gear manufacturers to recycle discarded fishing gear from fishermen and fishing enterprises.

    17:https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2019-10/28/content_5445987.htm
    Partnership and Innovation
    Boost multi-stakeholder involvement and awareness-raising Yes

    Specific Measures:

    1. Opinions on Further Strengthening Plastic Pollution Control (2020)
    2. Plastic Pollution Control Action Plan (2021-2025)
    3. Marine Ecological Environment Protection Plan (2021-2025)

    Brief description:

    1. Increase the publicity of plastic pollution control, guiding the public to reduce the use of disposable plastic products, participate in waste classification, and resisting excessive packaging. Making use of newspapers, radio and television, new media, and other channels to in-depth publicize the effectiveness and typical practices of plastic pollution control. Guiding industry associations, business groups, and charity organizations to conduct professional seminars and voluntary activities in an orderly manner, building consensus, and creating a good atmosphere for the participation of the whole society.
       
      In terms of publicity and education, marine plastic survey and cleaning activities have become normalized relying on non-governmental environmental protection organizations and environmental protection volunteers, who have played active roles in preventing land-based waste from entering the sea. Through newspapers, television, the Internet and other media, promote the prevention of marine plastic pollution by strengthening public education and other methods, and raise the public awareness on prevention and control of marine plastic pollution.
    2. Strengthen publicity, education and scientific popularization, guide the public to develop green consumption habits, reduce the consumption of disposable plastic products, and consciously fulfill the obligation of sorting and throwing household waste.
    3. Give full play to the guiding role of the media in public opinion, make full use of the important nodes such as the June 5th Environmental Day, the June 8th Ocean Day and the International Beach Day, carry out publicity and education activities of marine ecological environment protection, popularize scientific knowledge of marine ecological environment, spread the concept of marine ecological civilization.
    Encourage/ Incentivize action by private sector companies to reduce/ sustainably manage their plastic waste. Yes

    Specific Measures:

    1. Opinions on Further Strengthening Plastic Pollution Control (2020)
    2. Plastic Pollution Control Action Plan (2021-2025)

    Brief description:
    Give full play to the main responsibility of enterprises, strengthen government supervision and management, enhance policy guidance, gather social consensus, and form a multi-dimensional co-management system with the participation of the government, enterprises, industrial organizations and the public.
     
    Cultivate and optimize new business forms and modes. Strengthen the green management responsibility of enterprises and implement green supply chains. E-commerce, takeaway and other platform enterprises should strengthen the management of merchants, develop implementation programs for the reduction and replacement of disposable plastic products, and release the implementation status to the society. Encourage enterprises to adopt equity cooperation, joint capital injection and other methods to build a cross-platform operation system for recyclable packaging. Encourage enterprises to use integrated packaging for commodities and logistics, and establish a recycling system for recyclable logistics and distribution appliances.
     
    Increase the supply of green products. Plastic products manufacturers should strictly implement relevant laws and regulations, produce plastic products in line with relevant standards, and should not illegally add chemical additives that are harmful to the human body and the environment. Promote green design and enhance the safety and recycling performance of plastic products. Actively adopt new green and environmentally friendly functional materials, increase the use of recycled plastics that comply with quality control standards and usage control requirements, strengthen the research and development of recyclable, easy-to-recycle and degradable alternative materials and products, reduce application costs, and effectively increase the supply of green products.
     
    Strengthen plastic waste recycling and transportation. Promote multi-party cooperation among e-commerce takeaway platforms, sanitation departments, recycling enterprises, etc., and place recycling facilities for express packaging and takeaway lunch boxes in key areas.
     
    Supervise shipping enterprises to implement their main responsibilities, and crack down on illegal discharge of ship waste in accordance with the law.

    Encourage public awareness on MPL issues through formal education system and/or curriculum for Yes

    Specific Measures:
    Under the guidance of the Department of Marine Ecology and Environment of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the Publicity and Education Center of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment hosted the Marine Ecological Protection Publicity Campaign in Schools, which consisted of a series of thematic courses, on-site interactive quizzes and the distribution of publicity brochures. Through the courses, students were able to deepen their knowledge and understanding of marine plastic waste pollution and raise their awareness of marine ecological protection18.
     
    With the support of government departments at all levels, China Environmental Protection Foundation actively collaborates with enterprises, scientific research institutions, and other organizations to organize rich beach cleanups and publicity activities tailored to diverse groups of people. Notably, it has organized universities’ environmental protection clubs and corporate volunteers to carry out 453 coastal environment patrols, 155 voyages of marine pollution prevention and control, and 8 urban relay events for popularization of marine science in 11 cities across six coastal provinces, namely Shandong, Zhejiang, Guangdong, Hainan, Liaoning, and Fujian. With a total participation of over 3,100 volunteers, these activities have facilitated the continuation of social action for marine environmental protection in China. These efforts have created opportunities for the public to understand and participate in marine conservation, actively encouraged public involvement in beach cleanup initiatives, and made positive contributions to fostering beautiful bays.
     
    Ant Forest Foundation is a non-public fundraising foundation dedicated to improving and protecting the natural ecological environment, advocating and practicing green development across society, and facilitating welfare activities for environmental protection among the public. In 2023, Ant Forest Foundation officially launched the Beach Cleanup Public Welfare Initiative, collaborating with seven non-profit organizations to conduct regular beach cleanups at 40 beaches in nine cities across five provinces in China (Shandong, Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong, and Hainan). At the same time, leveraging the internet-based public welfare platform, Ant Forest | Magic Ocean, it encourages the public to support the Beach Cleanup Public Welfare Initiative online using “green energy” accumulated through practicing a green and low-carbon lifestyle in their daily lives. It has garnered support from over 165 million people. By combining online and on-site efforts, it aims to guide more public to focus on the ocean and contribute to fostering beautiful bays in China.

    18:http://www.chinaeol.net/ceecst/202212/t20221221_1008342.shtml

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    Promote innovative solutions through Research & Development (e.g., subsidy program, investment fund etc.) Yes

    Specific Measures:

    1. Opinions on Further Strengthening Plastic Pollution Control (2020)
    2. Plastic Pollution Control Action Plan (2021-2025)

    Brief Description:

    1. Plastic products manufacturers should promote green design to improve the safety and recycling performance of plastic products. Adopt new green and environment-friendly functional materials. Strengthen the research and development of recyclable and degradable alternative materials and products. Formulate a replacement implementation plan for the reduction of disposable plastic products. Strengthen the management of registered merchants in e-commerce, food delivery, and other platform enterprises, promote green supply chains.
    2. Formulate the management measures for the use and report of disposable plastic products, establish and improve the reporting system for the use and recycling of disposable plastic products, and supervise and guide the operators of commodity retail, e-commerce, catering and accommodation to implement main responsibility. Supervise and guide e-commerce, takeout and other platform enterprises and express delivery enterprises to formulate platform rules for disposable plastic products reduction. Release recommended catalogue of green packaging products, promote the integration of products and express packaging, and promote the original direct delivery of e-commerce express. Give play to the role of public institutions and take the lead in reducing the use of single-use plastic products. In the reception and training venues affiliated to the agency, explore the pilot program of direct drinking water purifiers to replace plastic bottled water.

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    Monitoring, Data Management, Understanding Flow of Plastics/MPL
    Conduct Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of plastic products. What are the challenges if LCA is not conducted? Yes

    Scope: ■ National

    1. Opinions on Further Strengthening Plastic Pollution Control (2020)
    2. Plastic Pollution Control Action Plan (2021-2025)

    Brief Description:

    1. Carry out research and evaluation of environmental risks throughout the whole life- cycle of different types of plastic products.
    2. By 2025, the mechanism for plastic pollution control will operate with enhanced effectiveness, ensuring the effective implementation of responsibilities by local governments, departments, and enterprises. The comprehensive governance covering the whole chain of plastic products, from production to circulation, consumption, recycling, and final disposal, will yield more significant results, effectively containing white pollution.
    Conduct Material Flow Analysis (MFA) on plastics. What are the challenges if MFA is not conducted? Yes

    Scope: ■ National
    Plastics Environmental Footprint in China (2020) 19

    Brief Description:
    The Beijing Institute of Petrochemical Technology has authored the Environmental Footprint Assessment of Plastics in China. This study examines the plastic material flow in China and analyzes the environmental impact throughout the whole life-cycle of plastic products, encompassing their energy footprint, carbon footprint, and water footprint. Based on this analysis, the report proposes targets, roadmaps, safeguard measures, and anticipated benefits aimed at reducing plastic consumption (“plastic control”) during the 14th Five-Year Plan period.

    19:http://www.nrdc.cn/Public/uploads/2020-12-28/5fe941e197b58.pdf
    Conduct monitoring / estimation / scientific research on leakage of plastics/microplastics to the natural environment and/or flow of ocean surface.
    What are the challenges if these actions are not conducted?     		Yes

    Challenges (if applicable):
    Specific Measures:
    ■ Established a monitoring/reporting program/mechanism
    ■ Regularly conduct monitoring/estimation/scientific research

    ■ Conduct monitoring/scientific research

    Scope: ■ Local ■ National ■ Macro Plastics ■ Microplastics （<5㎜） ■ Ocean ■ others: rivers, soils, air etc.

    1. National monitoring system for marine litter and microplastics
    2. National Key Research and Development Program on Research on the Process of Microplastics Entering the Sea, Transport Fluxes and Ecological Risk Assessment Technologies
    3. Plastic Pollution Control Action Plan (2021-2025)

    Brief Description:

    1. Since 2007, China has organized annual monitoring of marine litter in coastal localities, covering coastal cities at the prefecture level and above. This monitoring encompasses beach litter, floating litter on the sea surface, and submarine litter. Annual monitoring of marine microplastics has been implemented since 2016. The monitoring results are published through the Bulletin of Marine Ecological and Environmental Status of China20.
    2. In 2022 The Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) initiated the National Key Research and Development Program (NKRDP) topic of “Research on the Process of Microplastics Entering the Sea, Transport Fluxes and Ecological Risk Assessment Technologies,” led by East China Normal University (ECNU). This project focuses on investigating the land-river-air-sea transmission processes and migration mechanisms of microplastics. It also studies the ecological effects based on the characteristics of microplastic pollution in China’s marine regions.
    3. Monitoring and investigation of marine plastic litter and microplastics have been conducted. China has conducted researches on pollution mechanisms, monitoring, and techniques of prevention and control related to plastic litter and microplastics in rivers, lakes, and seas.

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    International Collaboration
    Participate in international cooperation through international organizations, multi-national groups, etc. Yes

    Specific Measures:

    1. Participate in the intergovernmental negotiations on an international instrument on plastic pollution within the framework of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
    2. Participate in exchanges and discussions on marine litter and microplastics within the framework of the Group of Twenty (G20), the Northwest Pacific Action Plan (NOWPAP), the Collaborative Ocean-Based System for East Asian Seas (COBSEA), and the Tripartite Meeting of Ministers of the Environment of China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (TEMM), among others.
    Support target region by your international cooperation initiatives/projects: South, Central and Southeast Asia Yes

    Target Regions:
    ■ South East
    Specific Measures:
    Framework of ASEAN-China Environmental Cooperation Strategy and Action Plan 2021-2025 21
    Brief Description:
    The Framework of ASEAN-China Environmental Cooperation Strategy and Action Plan 2021-2025 focuses on four strategic directions, the second of which is "sustainable cities and marine plastic reduction". ASEAN and China will co-operate on marine ecosystem protection and plastic waste pollution prevention. The main activities include: strengthen policy exchange and round-table dialogue on sustainable cities, including urban biodiversity conservation and marine plastic reduction; carry out relevant scientific research, exchange of technology and innovation on marine litter management and good practices; carry out relevant scientific research, exchange of technology and innovation on marine debris management and good practices; carry out experience sharing and exchange in connection with good practices in plastic and micro-plastic pollution control and coastal area biodiversity conservation in coastal cities in the ASEAN region; work together to carry out community-based actions in ASEAN and Chinese coastal cities

    20:https://www.mee.gov.cn/hjzl/sthjzk/jagb/
    21:http://www.lmec.org.cn/chinaaseanenv/zlyxdjh/202108/P020210806592484690608.pdf

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    Challenges

    ■ Data collection related to marine plastic litter

    Specific Challenges:
    At present, the number and frequency of marine litter monitoring points are still insufficient, and the technical support for coastal cities to carry out marine litter management needs to be strengthened.

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    Best Practices

    ■ National level ■ Local/community level ■ Private sector initiative ■ International initiative

    Description:
    National level
    Outstanding cases of Beautiful Bays22 : In 2021, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment launched the first collection of outstanding cases of beautiful bays, and now two batches of 20 cases of beautiful bays have been screened out. Sino-Singapore Eco-City shore section in Tianjin Binhai New Area set up "sea sanitation" professional team to implement of 500-meters beach cleanup working mechanism, and use drone inspection to achieve the normal control of beach litter and marine floating litter. Sanya Bay, Hainan has implemented the "daily cleaning" work system, deeply integrated and jointly controlled the "Beautiful Bay" construction and "Waste Free Cities" construction, and strictly controlled the litter into the river and the sea. The bays of Nanji Islands in Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, carried out a 100-day action to clean the countryside, and realized that domestic waste did not leave the island and beach litter were all disposed of and cleaned up, with more than 6,000 tons of various kinds of litter removed. Beihai Silver Beach, Guangxi has implemented comprehensive, no-dead centralized management of beach litter, and promoted the normalization of the management of bf beach litter and marine floating litter. The coastal cities in which the above cases are located have strengthened the integrated, systematic and source management of the ecological environment, and taken multiple measures to improve the quality of the ecological environment of the bays; have adopted protection measures such as legislative protection, grid-based supervision, public participation, intelligent supervision and popularization of science to strictly protect the excellent marine ecological environment.

    Local level
    "Marine sanitation" mechanism in Xiamen, Fujian23
    As early as 1994, Xiamen City in Fujian Province took the lead in establishing a "marine sanitation" mechanism, setting up a marine environmental sanitation management station, responsible for the collection and transfer of marine floating litter. Normalized waste management has been achieved on shorelines, river estuaries, and nearshore waters through the innovative establishment of an institutionalized, normalized, systematic, and information-based mechanism for managing marine litter, obtaining significant phased results.
    The current sea cleaning area has expanded to 230 square kilometers, basically covering Xiamen's main island and the surrounding bay waters. Xiamen invests about RMB 40 million each year to set up a cleaning team of more than 500 people, equipped with 4 sanitation piers, seven mechanized vessels, three patrol speedboats and 48 cleaning wooden boats. About 3,000 tons of sea-drifting litter are cleaned up each year, enabling collection at sea and disposal on land.

    The "Blue Circle" Project in Taizhou, Zhejiang24
    Zhejiang Province has innovatively implemented the Blue Circle project, establishing a sustainable and diversified collaborative governance framework. It features government guidance, enterprises dominance, industrial synergy, and public engagement in tackling marine plastic pollution.
    It achieves whole lifecycle visualized traceability, certification, and closed-loop supervision for marine plastic collection, capacity reduction and storage, transportation, and high-value utilization. A closed-loop governance platform for the Blue Circle has been established, and smart IoT devices, termed Ocean Cloud Warehouses, are deployed at the sources of marine litter, such as sea gates, ports, and outgoing vessels. When fishing boats enter electronic fenced areas, the system automatically sends reminders to fishermen to surrender pollutants in accordance with regulations. Social groups, including island and shoreline residents, fishermen, and shopkeepers at ports, have been mobilized to form frontline marine plastic litter collection teams, engaging in nearshore and beach litter collection. Approximately 30% of the collected marine plastic litter is non-recyclable and enters the municipal system for harmless disposal, while the remaining 70% undergoes deep processing for recycling.
    Zhejiang Province has constructed 61 Ocean Cloud Warehouses at ports, established 19 nearshore and beach litter collection points, and developed a collection network covering 12 coastal counties and districts, involving over 9,980 vessels and more than 1,300 coastal residents. A total of 2,853 tons of marine plastic litter (about 15.7 million plastic bottles) has been collected. The recovered marine plastic litter is reprocessed into traceable recycled plastic materials and transformed into fashionable clothing, office supplies, automotive accessories, and plastic products for electronic and electrical devices, thereby achieving the goal of recycling plastic litter.

    Private sector initiative
    Ant Forest Foundation's “Reduce Plastic for Nature”. Initiative In December 2023, Ant Forest Foundation launched the “Reduce Plastic for Nature” Initiative to promote plastic pollution control and protect the natural environment such as the ocean polluted by plastic. The first batch of more than 30 Chinese and international enterprises joined the initiative. This initiative was officially announced at the relevant meeting held by the World Conservation Union (IUCN) at COP28. IUCN will function as the technical partner for the initiative, providing tools and standards for measuring effectiveness and collaborating in promoting best practices for plastic pollution control.

    International initiative
    Global Action Plan for Bamboo as a Substitute for Plastic (2023-2030) 25

    In November 2023, the First International Symposium on Bamboo as a Substitute for Plastic was convened in Beijing. The Chinese government and the International Bamboo and Rattan Organization (INBAR) jointly unveiled the Global Action Plan for Bamboo as a Substitute for Plastic (2023-2030). Building upon the Bamboo as a Substitute for Plastic initiative, this plan urges pertinent international organizations and government departments, scientific research institutions, and educational establishments at all levels within relevant nations to embed elements of “bamboo as a substitute for plastic” into their development strategies and plans, with the shared objective of mitigating plastic pollution.

    22:https://www.mee.gov.cn/xxgk2018/xxgk/xxgk06/202201/t20220130_968669.html
    23:https://www.eco.gov.cn/news_info/51032.html
    24:http://sthjt.zj.gov.cn/art/2022/8/31/art_1201818_58934354.html
    25:https://www.forestry.gov.cn/c/www/kjkjxw/530622.jhtml

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    Contact Details

    Name: Liu Ying
    Email: [email protected]

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