In Taizhou City of Zhejiang Province, 74-year-old fisherman Chen Xiafang has found a sustainable way to supplement his income. Over the past six months, Chen has spent his spare time collecting plastic waste along the coastline, sending it to the Little Blue House, a marine garbage treatment site. For his efforts, Chen receives a monthly payment of around 700 yuan.
The Little Blue House plays a crucial role in recycling and sorting marine plastic waste, contributing significantly to reducing coastal pollution. This initiative is part of China's broader program to process marine plastic waste, which involves collaboration among more than 6,000 individuals and over 200 enterprises in Zhejiang Province. In 2023, this program was honored with one of the United Nations' most prestigious environmental awards.
Since its inception, the program has engaged over 61,600 participants and has successfully collected approximately 10,936 tons of marine debris, including 2,254 tons of plastic waste, according to Lang Wenrong, director of the Ecological Environment Department of Zhejiang Province. This effort not only supports local fishermen but also demonstrates effective pollution control in coastal waters.
Today marks International Zero Waste Day, emphasizing the global need to enhance waste management and promote sustainable consumption and production practices. The United Nations General Assembly declared March 30th as International Day of Zero Waste to raise awareness and encourage action.
China is making substantial investments in waste management infrastructure and technology, exploring innovative solutions such as waste-to-energy plants and advanced recycling facilities to minimize landfill usage. In line with these efforts, Zhejiang Province recently launched the Zhejiang Food Delivery Plastic Zero Waste Program, aimed at reducing and recycling plastic used in food delivery services.
The program sets a target to establish a \"zero waste\" operational model for food delivery plastics in key areas like universities by the end of 2023. By 2025, this model will be expanded to schools, commercial buildings, and communities. The initiative brings together various stakeholders, including food delivery platforms, merchants, university representatives, disposal enterprises, restaurant associations, and recycling associations, to form a province-wide alliance focused on reducing plastic waste.
As part of the program, Zhejiang will install waste collection facilities in areas with high volumes of food delivery plastic waste, such as university dormitories and cafeterias. Food delivery companies will manage the initial setup of these facilities, while universities will oversee their operation and maintenance.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
