[Policy] Briefing of MSW Management in China during 01-06 2022

On January 24, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) decided that the en-forcement of China’s Carbon Strategy should be connected to the performance evaluation of local governments.[1]This is an important development in the implementation of China’s Carbon Peak and Carbon Neutrality Strategy, the national regulatory framework on climate change.

On June 13, seven entities including the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) jointly issued the Implementation Plan for Synergizing the Reduction of Pollution and Carbon Emissions.[2]The plan proposes the following target goals in phases by 2025 and by 2030: By 2025, measures for reducing pollution and carbon emissions and promoting low-carbon development in key regions and areas will be elaborated. These measures will be put into effect in pilot regions and then, in a second step, will be replicated by other regions. By 2030, the capacities to reduce pollution and carbon emissions would significantly increase. Apart from that, the plan aims to achieve results in the key areas of pollution prevention and control, including, solid waste management and the quality of air, water and soil.

Furthermore, on May 6, the General Office of the Central Committee of the CPC and the General Office of the State Council of China issued the Advice on Promoting Urbanization in Counties as Main Object and, together with it, a notice requesting regions and departments to implement the measures set forth in this document.[3]China has been promoting urbanization for many years and, with this new policy, is placing more attention on counties with smaller populations and on their development in terms of in-frastructure. Four paragraphs in this Advice are dedicated specifically to waste management and circu-lar economy.

In the waste sector, several new policies emphasize recycling. On January 17, NDRC and the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) published the Guiding Opinions on Accelerating the Construction of a Recycling System for Recyclable Materials.[4]Furthermore, on January 24, NDRC, MOFCOM, and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology jointly issued the Implementation Advice on Accelerating the Re-cycling of Waste Textiles.[5]

On the municipal level, on April 28, the Beijing Municipal Development and Reform Commission and the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Ecology and Environment jointly issued the Action Plan for Plastic Pollution Control in 2022, proposing 23 specific measures for the capital city. These include the reduction of sin-gle use plastics, accelerating the recycling of plastic waste, and an establishment of a reporting system for the biggest plastic product users such as delivery services. [6]

[1]36th group study session. Source:http://www.gov.cn/xinwen/2022-01/25/content_5670359.htm
[2]MEE and seven other ministries: A Plan for implementing in Synergy and with Increased Effectiveness the Reduction of Pollution and Carbon Emissions. Source: https://www.mee.gov.cn/ywdt/xwfb/202206/t20220617_985943.shtml
[3]General Office of the CCP, State Council: Advice on Promoting Urbanization in Counties as Main Object. Source: http://www.gov.cn/zhengce/2022-05/06/content_5688895.htm
[4]NDRC: Guiding Opinions on Accelerating the Construction of Recycling System for Waste and Useless Materials. Source: http://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2022-01/22/content_5669857.htm
[5]NDRC, MofCom, MIIT: Implementation Advice on Accelerating the Recycling of Waste and Useless Textiles. Source: https://www.ndrc.gov.cn/xxgk/zcfb/tz/202204/t20220411_1321822.html?code=&state=123
[6]Beijing Publishes an Action Plan for Plastic Pollution Control in 2022, Proposing 23 Specific Measures as Top Priorities for 2022. Source: http://fgw.beijing.gov.cn/gzdt/fgzs/mtbdx/bzwlxw/202204/t20220429_2697004.htm

Cover image source: Xi’an MSW Classification Service Center