Domestic information:
1. Plastic ban order 'is coming!!!
Follow! Hainan will 'ban plastic products completely' by the end of 2020 and form a supply capacity of alternative products by the end of this year
The press conference on the implementation plan for the comprehensive prohibition of the production, sale and use of disposable non degradable plastic products in Hainan Province, held in Haikou on February 21, revealed that the production, sale and use of disposable non degradable plastic bags and plastic tableware will be comprehensively prohibited in the province by the end of 2020.
Article link: http://k.sina.com.cn/article_5541011958_14a4521f602000gyum.html?cre=tianyi&mod=pcpager_china&loc=2&r=9&rfunc=13&tj=none&tr=9
2. 1056 printing cities were forced to shut down before the Spring Festival, and half the sky was missing
'As of January 20, 366 enterprises have been shut down, and 582 enterprises have been forcibly shut down by taking measures such as sealing up production equipment and powering off power in accordance with the law.' By the end of the lunar calendar, Cangnan County will complete the shutdown of 1056 printing enterprises.
Article link: http://www.epwho.com/news/201901/29/176556.html
3. Ministry of ecological environment: the intensity of environmental protection will not be relaxed
On February 14, the State Information Office held a press conference on China's ecological environment inspection work. The relevant principals of the Supreme People's Procuratorate and the Ministry of ecological environment introduced the current situation of ecological environment procuratorial work in China.
Article link: http://www.jjckb.cn/2019-02/15/c_137822668.htm
International Information:
1. Chemical engineers from the University of Queensland in Australia are working with the government and industry to solve the problem of increasingly serious plastic pollution. It is estimated that the plastic output in 2017 was 348 million tons, bringing the total plastic output since 1950 to 8.3 billion tons. At present, Queensland also prohibits the use of disposable plastic bags, and has implemented a plastic container refund program, which has recycled more than 220 million plastic containers. In the future, home-made manufacturers, end users, recyclers and key participants in the government will be linked, so that everyone can become part of the solution to the problem of plastic pollution. This will be invaluable to help the Queensland Government identify and prioritize actions to deal with plastic pollution. (University of Queensland)
2. In the United States, more and more consumers take cloth bags to grocery stores, take their mugs to coffee shops, and refuse to use plastic straws in restaurants. The market responded to this: a paper straw manufacturer reported a seven fold increase in sales in 2018. The government also began to take action. California and Hawaii have banned the use of disposable plastic bags. Last year, more than a dozen cities in California banned the use of plastic straws. In the autumn of 2018, the European Union passed a ban on the use of more disposable plastic products, including tableware, plates and mixing sticks. In January this year, Berkeley, California, passed a law requiring takeout containers to be composted by the middle of 2020, and diners can only use reusable plates and tableware. The 25 cent fee for disposable cups is designed to encourage customers to bring their own cups. （NBC news）
3. From January this year, some large enterprises such as p&g, Nestle, Pepsi and Unilever will begin to provide products packaged in glass, steel and other containers, which are designed to be recycled, cleaned and refilled. In some pilot markets, Nestle Haagen Dazs' ice cream will soon be packed in reusable metal containers, and Pepsi Cola's Tropicana orange juice will be packed in glass bottles. （NBC news）
4. In Pakistan, 250 million tons of garbage is mainly composed of plastic bags, bottle caps and food residues. A survey by the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency found that about 55billion plastic bags are currently in use, which is expected to increase by 15% every year. The ZOB District of Balochistan province in the country is launching a campaign against plastic pollution. The government announced 2019 as the year without plastic bags, and announced that in the next 12 months, plastic bags in zobo district will be completely replaced by biodegradable environmental protection bags. Waheed badeeni, the chief executive of ZOB District, said that plastic bags are the biggest obstacle to our cleaning action. They are cooperating with the Ministry of environment to replace plastic bags with degradable plastic bags. Dr. Khair said that toxic chemicals can seep out of plastic and can be found in almost all of our blood and tissues. Human exposure to these substances can lead to cancer and birth defects. （From：the balochistan point）
5. In the past 30 years, beaches and waterways around the world have collected more than 9 million straw and mixing rods. According to the Marine Conservation Association, the average person uses at least one straw per day. Straws and plastics are a common threat to marine life, which is why the Marine Conservation Association launched the 'no straws' campaign. This is a promise to say no to plastic straw, which is a small step of great benefit to ocean health. More than 19000 pledges have been made. The coast is the home of residents in Southeast North Carolina. It is important to protect the sea here. Locally, the 'plastic ocean project' (POP) is committed to removing plastics from our oceans while creating sustainable enterprises. The goal of pop is to create a collective community focused on reducing the use of plastic, while seeking innovation and cooperation around the value of plastic waste. Tricia monteleon, vice president of the plastic ocean project, said that we are trying to reduce plastic in the sea and even on land. Pop is now carrying out an activity called 'planting trees for garbage'. Monteleone said: 'we collect tons of garbage everywhere. We have been cleaning up. Every time we go to clean up, we weigh it. For every 25 pounds of garbage, we plant a tree. In the sea, plastics cannot be biodegradable. The challenge pop brings to everyone is to find a way to find plastic in the ocean, no matter how big or small, and then take it out. ' Pop's mission is to educate through field research, implement progressive outreach, and find solutions to global plastic pollution problems to create a better future.
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