Two regions in China have regulations on plastic waste reduction and solid waste management.
The Province of Jilin enacted on 1 January 2015 the Regulation on the Prohibition of Production, Sales, and Provision of Disposable Non-Degradable Plastic Shopping Bags and Plastic Tableware (UNEP, 2018). This regulation restricts the production and sale of non-degradable plastic shopping bags and plastic tableware (Article 1). The regulation asks relevant stakeholders to be responsible in improving recycling activities and facilities (Article 8). It also requires shopping malls, shops, and markets’ organizers to monitor the implementation of the plastic ban (Article 9). Penalties are imposed on those who break the regulation (Article 11).
The City of Shanghai, which is the biggest industrial and commercial city in China with a high population density, has an experience in implementing environmental law (Lianghu et al., 2014). Since early 2019, Shanghai has adopted the Shanghai Domestic Waste Management Regulations, with waste separation as one of its main highlights. The regulation lists four categories of waste separation: recyclable wastes, harmful wastes, wet rubbish, and dry rubbish (Article 4). Several municipal departments are involved in enhancing municipal solid waste management practice and developing comprehensive cooperation mechanism (Article 5). Individuals are asked to actively support green living, waste reduction and separation, and domestic garbage management. Shanghai has a domestic garbage disposal fee system to set the prices for domestic waste disposal (Article 7). Government institutions, enterprises, and hotels are encouraged to use environment-friendly products and eliminate the use of disposable cups (Article 21 and 22). The regulation requires waste classification, collection, transportation, and disposal (Article 28, 29, & 30).
Jilin Provincial People’s Government (2015), Regulation on the Prohibition of Production, Sales, and Provision of Disposable Non-Degradable Plastic Shopping Bags and Plastic Tableware. http://law.foodmate.net/show-187329.html (accessed 6 November 2019).
Lianghu, S., H. Sheng, N. Dongjie, C. Xiaoli, N. Yongfeng, and Z. Youcai (2014), ‘Municipal solid waste in China’, in A. Pariatamby and M. Tanaka, Municipal Solid Waste Management in Asia and the Pacific Islands. Singapore: Springer, pp.95–112.
Shanghai Municipal People’s Congress (2019), Shanghai Domestic Waste Management Regulations. https://news.sina.com.cn/c/2019-02-20/doc-ihrfqzka7353548.shtml (accessed 6 November 2019).
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) (2018), Single-use Plastics: A Roadmap for Sustainability. https://wedocs.unep.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.11822/25496/singleUsePlastic_sustainability.pdf?isAllowed=y&sequence=1 (accessed 6 November 2019).
Two regions in China have regulations on plastic waste reduction and solid waste management.
The Province of Jilin enacted on 1 January 2015 the Regulation on the Prohibition of Production, Sales, and Provision of Disposable Non-Degradable Plastic Shopping Bags and Plastic Tableware (UNEP, 2018). This regulation restricts the production and sale of non-degradable plastic shopping bags and plastic tableware (Article 1). The regulation asks relevant stakeholders to be responsible in improving recycling activities and facilities (Article 8). It also requires shopping malls, shops, and markets’ organizers to monitor the implementation of the plastic ban (Article 9). Penalties are imposed on those who break the regulation (Article 11).
The City of Shanghai, which is the biggest industrial and commercial city in China with a high population density, has an experience in implementing environmental law (Lianghu et al., 2014). Since early 2019, Shanghai has adopted the Shanghai Domestic Waste Management Regulations, with waste separation as one of its main highlights. The regulation lists four categories of waste separation: recyclable wastes, harmful wastes, wet rubbish, and dry rubbish (Article 4). Several municipal departments are involved in enhancing municipal solid waste management practice and developing comprehensive cooperation mechanism (Article 5). Individuals are asked to actively support green living, waste reduction and separation, and domestic garbage management. Shanghai has a domestic garbage disposal fee system to set the prices for domestic waste disposal (Article 7). Government institutions, enterprises, and hotels are encouraged to use environment-friendly products and eliminate the use of disposable cups (Article 21 and 22). The regulation requires waste classification, collection, transportation, and disposal (Article 28, 29, & 30).
Jilin Provincial People’s Government (2015), Regulation on the Prohibition of Production, Sales, and Provision of Disposable Non-Degradable Plastic Shopping Bags and Plastic Tableware. http://law.foodmate.net/show-187329.html (accessed 6 November 2019).
Lianghu, S., H. Sheng, N. Dongjie, C. Xiaoli, N. Yongfeng, and Z. Youcai (2014), ‘Municipal solid waste in China’, in A. Pariatamby and M. Tanaka, Municipal Solid Waste Management in Asia and the Pacific Islands. Singapore: Springer, pp.95–112.
Shanghai Municipal People’s Congress (2019), Shanghai Domestic Waste Management Regulations. https://news.sina.com.cn/c/2019-02-20/doc-ihrfqzka7353548.shtml (accessed 6 November 2019).
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) (2018), Single-use Plastics: A Roadmap for Sustainability. https://wedocs.unep.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.11822/25496/singleUsePlastic_sustainability.pdf?isAllowed=y&sequence=1 (accessed 6 November 2019).
