Plastic Pollution: One of China's top pollutants the focus of World Earth Day

World
Europe

02:39

Plastic is one of China's top pollutants. It's also the main environmental hazard that this year's World Earth Day is campaigning against. The growth of online shopping and food deliveries has compounded the issue, with containers and packaging supplies filling the world's dump sites, waterways, and beyond. Experts say everyone needs to do their part, as CGTN's Mark Fontes reports.

More than three months into a foreign solid waste ban widely inclusive of plastic products, China can now focus more efforts on its mess at home. Experts say much of that mess is plastic, and that it needs the nation's undivided attention.

YANG ZHONGYI ENVIRONMENTALIST, SUN YAT-SEN UNIVERSITY "The so-called 'plastic pollution' is blamed mostly on disposable products, like plastic bags, lunch containers, and express packaging. These low quality plastic products are difficult to recycle, therefore they become pollution."

Difficult to recycle, but not impossible. Thanks to mechanisms like this one in Shanxi province, low-grade plastics are broken up and made into new similar products. Low-quality plastics account for about 10 to 15 percent of all waste in urban and suburban areas. The figure is higher in rural regions, mainly due to a lack of both recycling facilities and environmental awareness.

LYU FENGLIN, DIRECTOR SOLID WASTE & HEAVY METAL MANAGEMENT DIVISION GUANGZHOU ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT "The principal contradiction among Chinese people is between the growing desire of having a good life and the unbalanced development. We need to follow the will of the people and put environmental protection on the agenda."

MARK FONTES GUANGZHOU "Experts say that even the world's greenest products still leave behind about 25 percent actual waste. Now as consumers, we can always reduce the amount of plastic we consume, and re-use what we buy. Professor Yang says though that recycling is still the best option and says in the case of plastics, it's paramount."

YANG ZHONGYI ENVIRONMENTALIST, SUN YAT-SEN UNIVERSITY "If you don't recycle, how are you gonna deal with them? Plastic products irresponsibly disposed of will cause what we call 'white pollution' to the environment. Because they degrade very slowly."

LYU FENGLIN, DIRECTOR SOLID WASTE & HEAVY METAL MANAGEMENT DIVISION GUANGZHOU ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT "Recycling companies in Guangdong are actively seeking ways to transform and upgrade. Many are transferring their business abroad and building recycling factories in other countries."

Incineration is one solution for higher quality, thicker, less recyclable plastics. Yet the process is done sparingly, since incineration can release organic pollutants into the air. As for now, companies will continue to explore the best options at home and abroad for curbing China's plastic pollution. Mark Fontes, CGTN, Guangzhou.