In 2017, China issued the “Implementation Plan for the Prohibition of the Entry of Foreign Garbage into China to Promote the Management of Imports of Solid Waste”. The program stipulates that from January 1, 2018, China bans the import of waste plastics, paper, waste slag, etc. from Europe and the United States. Rubbish', where Britain and the United States are foreign countries importing foreign waste. Today, the program has been implemented for more than two months. What are the progresses in the recycling of plastic waste in Britain and the United States and what measures will they take to deal with these wastes?
Problem Description
United States:
Since the previous garbage had always been exported to China, the corresponding garbage recycling infrastructure in the United States was not very adequate. After the implementation of China’s 'junk ban', the US’s plastic waste lost its maximum processing direction, piled up with plastic waste and other garbage. Together, they are occupying various garbage collection stations in a tidal wave, and the US's local waste disposal capacity and re-recycling capacity are not enough to cope with the huge 'rubbish dump'.
United Kingdom:
According to incomplete statistics, 55% of the plastic waste in the UK is exported to China every year. After China implemented the ban, the British people also panicked. Because the British and the Americans are dealing with plastic waste, they are not able to handle it. According to statistics, only In 2012, the United Kingdom exported 2.7 million tons of plastic waste to China! Since then, the amount of waste that the United Kingdom has exported to China has been growing. This has made Britons feel that 'without rubbish, society as a whole seems to be more environmentally friendly'. After the ban was implemented, 4. The plastic waste in the UK's garbage collection plant has also piled up.
problem solved
Although China has implemented a garbage ban, plastic waste from the United Kingdom and the United States can no longer flow to China, but the two countries will not sit idly by the accumulation of rubbish in their own country. For example, in the face of these garbage, the United Kingdom is actively looking for alternatives to China's export of rubbishes. At the same time, Xia was also actively calling for a reduction in the use of plastic products. In response to a speech on environmental issues issued by the British Prime Minister in February, the United Kingdom hopes to completely eliminate the use of disposable plastics in 2024.
In the face of the Chinese ban, the United Kingdom and the United States are actively formulating policies to completely solve the problem of plastic waste. However, before the successful development of the relevant technologies and the introduction of policies, the United Kingdom and the United States are still looking for alternatives to China’s waste exports. 'Mainly, then there is no big market for China. Where will the plastic waste from the United States and the United States go?
Southeast Asia:
In the direction of exporting plastic waste, Southeast Asian countries originally occupy a certain proportion. Because plastic waste has huge economic benefits, it will cause damage to the environment, but due to the low level of economic development in Southeast Asian countries, people are more likely to pursue a higher economy. Benefits It is foreseeable that countries in Southeast Asia will play an increasingly important role in the export of plastic waste in the United Kingdom and the United States. However, due to the weak industrial base in Southeast Asian countries, industrial manufacturing capacity is not strong, and it is difficult for Southeast Asian countries to replace China as plastic waste. The main exit direction.
Japan:
After the Chinese ban was implemented, relevant Japanese sources stated that although China banned the import of plastic waste, the Chinese market still exists and there is still a huge demand for plastic materials. In addition, Japan has advanced technology in recycled plastics, and some Japanese companies may have already With the renewal of technology, in the face of rising plastic prices, the plastic recycling market may change dramatically.
Nordic countries:
The Nordic countries (Norway, Sweden, Finland) have more advanced waste recycling and treatment technologies around the world. According to statistics, 36% of the garbage in Sweden is recycled, 14% of the waste is used as fertilizer, and 49% of the waste is used as energy for combustion. In Northern Europe, only 150 million tons of garbage are produced each year, but their waste treatment plants can process 700 million tons of garbage each year, and the waste gap is up to 500 million tons. In the three northern European countries, plastic waste is recycled or used as energy for burning. Compared to other countries, plastic waste is a good destination.
The United Kingdom and the United States export their waste abroad to reduce the impact of plastic waste on their home country. This can only be a matter of urgency and can not fundamentally solve the problem. To solve the problem of plastic waste fundamentally, the state must adopt advanced technologies. Recycling plastics and other wastes, or using degradable, non-polluting and environmentally friendly materials, can prevent plastic pollution. The implementation of new Chinese standards may be a new opportunity for countries that export waste to other regions. , so that they can treat garbage recycling issues more seriously, such as the United States or legislation will require manufacturers to recycle their own garbage.