China moves to phase out single-use plastics

[G_j]

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-environment-plastic/china-moves-to-phase-out-single-use-plastics-idUSKBN1ZI0CV

BEIJING (Reuters) - China is stepping up restrictions on the production, sale and use of single-use plastic products, the state planner said on Sunday, as it seeks to tackle one of the country’s biggest environmental problems.

Vast amounts of untreated plastic waste are buried in landfills or dumped in rivers. The United Nations has identified single-use plastics as one of the world’s biggest environmental challenges.

The National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, which issued the new policy, said plastic bags will be banned in all of China’s major cities by the end of 2020 and banned in all cities and towns in 2022. Markets selling fresh produce will be exempt from the ban until 2025.

Other items such as plastic utensils from takeaway food outlets and plastic courier packages will also be phased out.

..more..

[lunasun]

1. kick ! that is a large country their 1time plastic use may not be as high as US yet, but big move

to stop it growing now there
also this
China also banned the import of all plastic waste, and the use of medical plastic waste in the production of plastic.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

2. the end of stupid uses for plastic can't come soon enough

I bought a USB card reader. It came with those idiotic plastic protector strips to keep it glossy. It's a device designed to be handled -- what moron thinks it must be kept glossy for your thumbs?!?

Some 12VDC, polarized connectors arrived in individual plastic bags, in a plastic envelope, stuffed in a bubble-wrap plastic mailer. These connectors have pvc insulated pigtails. If they can't withstand the rigors of shipping, how the hell will they survive the engine compartment of a car?

Plastic needs to be very expensive so marketing morons get overruled by engineers.