In order to improve the ecological environment, and to stop becoming a garbage recycling station in Europe and the United States, the Chinese government issued a ban in July 2017 and banned the import of waste plastics from Europe and the United States from January 1, 2018. The ban has been issued and implemented so far. In four months, the ban imposed by China so far has had a greater impact on which country?
China bans the import of plastic waste. Which country has a major impact?
At the time when the Chinese ban was promulgated, the garbage recycling industry in Europe and the United States was overshadowed by pessimism. Because plastic waste was exported to China for a long time, countries lacked corresponding recycling facilities. And the sudden ban imposed by China’s ban made European and American countries unprepared, short-term for European and American countries. Plastic waste in the garbage-collecting plant was piled up and became overwhelmed. The Chinese ban had a significant impact on European and American countries when it was just promulgated. However, it is clear that European and American countries have not yet stood still.
The United Kingdom has developed a long-term plan to try to reduce the use of disposable plastics so that it can completely eradicate plastic waste in the near future. Other countries have also formulated plans to reduce the use of disposable plastics in an attempt to reduce the impact of plastic waste. However, Remote water is difficult to solve and thirsty. While Europe and the United States are formulating long-term plans to solve problems, they are also actively looking for alternatives to the Chinese market, trying to reduce the impact of the Chinese ban as soon as possible, and ease the current situation of plastic waste accumulation.
In the original export direction of plastic waste in European countries and the United States, Southeast Asian countries originally occupied a certain share. With the implementation of the Chinese ban, Southeast Asian countries have gradually increased the share of plastic waste. Related data show that after China implemented the plastic waste ban, Malaysia's imports of waste plastics amounted to 400,000 to 500,000 tons, an increase of about 40%. Vietnam's imports increased by 62% year-on-year, Thailand increased by 117%, and Indonesia's increased by 65%. In the short term, the rapid increase in the import volume of waste plastics makes the local ecology The pressure on the environment has increased dramatically. However, due to the weak industrial foundation in Southeast Asian countries, weak manufacturing capacity and enhanced environmental awareness among people in Southeast Asian countries, it is difficult for Southeast Asian countries to become the main export direction for plastic waste in Europe and the United States. It can be foreseen that the Chinese ban will cause damage to Southeast Asian countries. The impact will be reduced after its waste plastics imports peak.
With the exception of Southeast Asian countries, South Korea has unexpectedly become the main force receiving waste plastics in Europe and the United States. According to statistics, in just two months in February and March of this year, South Korea imported more than 10,000 tons of plastic garbage, and there are more than 2,000 in the United States alone. The tonnage is 30 times more than in the same period of last year. South Korea has a perfect waste disposal system. Although South Korea also exports plastic waste to China, the quantity is not large, and the Chinese ban has had a smaller impact on Korea. However, it is also positive. Because South Korea's plastic waste management system is relatively complete, coupled with South Korea's lower control of plastic waste, China's ban has not only resulted in South Korea's plastic waste can not be exported, but also led to a large number of other countries into the South Korean plastic waste.
According to relevant media reports, due to the influx of a large amount of plastic waste, the price of recycling of plastic waste in South Korea caused a sharp drop. Before the Chinese ban was issued, Korean waste resin bottles cost 602 won (approximately 3.6 yuan) per kilogram, in March this year. The price fell to 257 won (approximately RMB 1.5), and the price of waste plastics also dropped from 90 won to 20 won. South Korea's garbage recycling companies refuse to collect their own garbage because they are unprofitable. Garbage collection companies refuse to collect waste and many The plastic waste in the community was untreated and dumped into mountains. This in turn caused physical conflicts between the residents of the community and the property company and alerted the Central Government of South Korea. As a result, the Minister of the Environment of the Republic of Korea went to the community to inspect the plastics as soon as possible. The problem of garbage.
Faced with such a grim situation, many South Korean media and waste recycling companies have stated to the government that they should introduce measures similar to China’s ban to limit the import of waste plastics. The Korean government also indicated that it will issue corresponding policies. However, due to South Korea and European and American countries, in particular, It is the 'good' relationship maintained by the United States. It is difficult to issue a garbage ban. South Korea will also be under pressure from plastic waste for some time.
The impact of South Korea’s plastic garbage in Europe and the United States is surprising. Although the South Korean people have a high awareness of environmental protection, the government has not made corresponding measures at the national level. It is also reasonable for South Korea to become a country that is greatly affected by the Chinese ban. Regardless of how Europe and the United States accuse China of banning imported plastic waste, China will not release the ban and allow plastic waste from European and American countries to pollute China’s environment. How other countries reduce or avoid the impact of China’s ban must be addressed. Its specific national conditions.