China

China is BIG...

in terms of its geographical area, its population, its growing economy and also their PLASTIC WASTE PROBLEM.

According to an Ocean Conservancy Report, this country generates 48 million tonnes of plastic waste and 5 million tonnes of plastic waste leakage per year. Indeed, China is ranked as the BIGGEST culprit for marine debris, responsible for an estimated 28% of global plastic waste leakage into the ocean (Jambeck et al, 2015). Furthermore, it is interesting to note that this massive plastic waste could be caused by an additional source. China is home to the world's largest recycling industry, receiving almost 9 million tonnes of end-of-life plastic imports from all around the globe.

Inadequate

Waste Management

With less than 40% of the approximately of waste collected, China have low waste collection rates. Rural areas tend to fare worse as residents would resort to informal practices of waste disposal, such as river dumping.

Yangtze River Waste Pollution

China officials arrests 11 for dumping more than 2,900 tons of rubbish into the Yangtze River. Source: Express Newspapers, 2016

Yangtze River Waste Pollution

China officials arrests 11 for dumping more than 2,900 tons of rubbish into the Yangtze River. Source: Express Newspapers, 2016

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GhettyImages/Reuters

Informal Recyclers

Waste Picking is crucial for the recycling industries. However there is a lack of monetary incentive for waste pickers to collect and recycle plastics. Only 11% of the plastic waste is extracted by informal recyclers.

The downward dive in oil prices affects how much the recyclers get paid for plastic. Plastic is made from oil, so when oil is cheap, making fresh and new plastic becomes cheaper as well.

Using recycled plastic, on the other hand, can be more expensive due to the necessary sorting and cleaning processes.

EFFORTS

The plastic bag ban (2008)

China reported a 66% reduction from an estimated 3 billion plastic bags used daily after imposing the ban on use of ultra-thin plastic bags (Worldwatch Institute, 2017).

However...

It did not work well in rural parts in China, as shown in BeiJing that more than 80% of retail outlets in these areas ignored the ban.

Perhaps,

It is difficult to monitor and impose the fines for retail companies in rural areas that fault these laws. There should be more appointed government officials that do regular checks to tighten regulations.

Woman Sleeping On Bottles

Image Source: Collective Responsibility