[Expert Thinking].
Author: Zhang Deyuan (Director, Circular Economy Research Office, Institute of Economic System and Management, Macroeconomic Research Institute, National Development and Reform Commission).
The common mulch film, pesticide bottles, fertilizer bags, milk cartons, plastic shopping bags, express bags, take-out lunch boxes, old clothes, plastic packaging of various commodities, etc., which are typical low-value products. If it can be effective**, it can be turned into a good resource and become an industrial raw material again. However, due to its high cost and poor economic benefits, the enthusiasm of enterprises is not high, and they are basically mixed with domestic waste incineration or landfill. At present, the average rate of various low-value objects in China is about 266%, far lower than the average utilization rate of more than 75% of major renewable resources, has become the biggest shortcoming of the construction of waste recycling system.
The utilization of low-value objects is of great significance. First of all, it is an important measure to effectively combat plastic pollution. At present, plastic pollution has become the focus of international attention. China produces about 60 million tons of plastic waste every year, of which about 18 million tons of plastics contained in scrapped cars, home appliances, toys and beverage bottles can be basically recycled, but the remaining more than 40 million tons of plastic bags and plastic film plastic waste are difficult to achieve in the current technical and economic conditions. Accelerating the establishment of a low-value material utilization system can turn these plastic wastes into treasures and prevent leakage from polluting the environment. Second, it is an important way to ensure resource and energy security. Every year, China produces more than 95 million tons of low-value materials, of which only more than 25 million tons are utilized, and more than 70 million tons are still mixed with domestic waste incineration or landfill. Finally, it is an important starting point for achieving the goal of carbon peak and carbon neutrality. According to the calculations of relevant industry associations, compared with the use of virgin resources, the use of 1 ton of waste paper to produce recycled paper is equivalent to a reduction of 4 tons of carbon dioxide emissions, and the use of 1 ton of waste plastic to produce recycled plastics is equivalent to a reduction of carbon dioxide emissions of 29 tons. According to comprehensive calculations, if the average utilization rate of low-value objects in China can reach 50%, it can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 127.47 million tons per year, which is equivalent to nearly 1300 million.
However, at present, the utilization of low-value objects is facing a series of difficulties.
*The classification and delivery of end garbage needs to be further strengthened. At this stage, residents' awareness of garbage classification needs to be improved, and the phenomenon of mixed transportation of kitchen waste, low-value and non-hazardous garbage is more prominent. According to the survey data, the domestic waste of residents in Beijing is 5626% are low-value objects, but at present, they are basically mixed with other garbage and sent to the waste incineration plant for disposal.
At the disposal end, the city's centralized sorting facilities are imperfect and unmatched. Judging from the existing urban infrastructure construction, centralized sorting is very important for the classification of a wide variety of low-value objects, but at present, there is no urban centralized low-value sorting facilities, and the low-value sorting chain has not yet been opened.
On the policy side, a sound policy system has not yet been established. There is a lack of unified national classification standards and catalogs, and the classification standards vary greatly from place to place, and the people do not know how to classify garbage. Most places in the country have not introduced special policies to support the use of low-value goods, and it is difficult to drive by market forces alone, and the market heat of low-value goods is always not high. The construction of garbage facilities is not welcomed, and the construction of low-value outlets is even more difficult.
In the face of these problems, only by working together can we rejuvenate low-value objects.
The state should strengthen the top-level design and system supply, incorporate the use of low-value objects into relevant laws and regulations and relevant strategic planning, formulate and publish guidelines for the use of low-value objects, increase financial support and tax incentives, improve standards and certification systems, and carry out demonstration and pilot construction. Construct an urban low-value sorting center to unify the mixing of low-value objects; Adopt a franchise model to build an independent collection, transportation and disposal system for waste glass and waste textiles; Introduce an extended producer responsibility system to centralize the collection and disposal of chemical fertilizer and pesticide packaging and mulch film; Gradually introduce a payment and disposal mechanism for bulky garbage to promote the integrated development of urban sanitation system; Strengthen the deposit of reusable packaging such as beer bottles and beverage bottles** to create a closed operation management system.
Local governments should speed up the reform and optimization of the traditional garbage treatment model, formulate and publish the low-value waste disposal catalogue and specific implementation rules, explore the establishment of a franchise system, strengthen the low-value network system and sorting center construction land, energy and other elements of protection, increase financial support, strengthen information management, standardize the production and operation behavior of enterprises, improve the enthusiasm and initiative of enterprises and residents to participate, so that low-value can be used The use of the system has become an important part of the basic service facilities for the convenience and benefit of the people.
Enterprises are the executors of the utilization of low-value objects, and should give full play to the core role of the construction of market mechanisms, straighten out the value chain of low-value materials, and encourage and support relevant enterprises to explore the sustainable business model of low-value materials by strengthening the innovation of technology and equipment and business model innovation; Encourage relevant product manufacturers to increase the use of renewable resources, support upstream enterprises to carry out low-value products, strengthen the management of green chains, and pave the way for the rebirth of low-value products.
The majority of consumers are the foundation and starting point of the construction of the low-value material utilization system, and they are also the key link in the success or failure of the system construction. In daily life, consumers should take the initiative to assume the responsibility of classifying low-value objects, improve the awareness of classification in the process of daily life, and put used waste paper, milk cartons, plastic bags, glass bottles, waste clothes and other low-value items into special boxes, standardize the trading behavior of low-value objects, avoid mixing and mixing domestic garbage, and let all kinds of low-value objects have their own place.
Bright**" 2024-02-20 07 edition).
*: Guangming Network - "Bright **".