Notice of the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment

The Central Propaganda Department, the Central Cyberspace Administration, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Rural Development, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Water Resources, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Health Commission, the State Administration for Market Regulation, the State Administration of Forestry and Grassland, the Railway Bureau, the Civil Aviation Administration, the Postal Bureau, the Drug Administration, the Rural Revitalization Bureau, the National Federation of Supply and Marketing Cooperatives, and all provinces and autonomous regions Development and Reform Commission and Department of Ecology and Environment (Bureau) of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps:

In order to further strengthen the full chain control of plastic pollution and achieve greater results in white pollution control during the 14th Five Year Plan period, we have formulated the Action Plan for Plastic Pollution Control during the 14th Five Year Plan period, which is now issued. Please organize and implement it seriously.

1、 Overall requirements

   Scientifically and prudently promote plastic substitute products, accelerate the standardized recycling and utilization of plastic waste, focus on improving the level of safe disposal of plastic waste at the end, vigorously carry out special cleaning and rectification of plastic waste, significantly reduce the amount of plastic waste landfill and environmental leakage, and achieve significant results in promoting white pollution control.

2、 Main objectives

By 2025, the plastic pollution control mechanism will operate more effectively, and local, departmental, and corporate responsibilities will be effectively implemented. The full chain governance of plastic product production, circulation, consumption, recycling, and end-of-life disposal will have more significant results, and white pollution will be effectively curbed. In terms of reducing production at the source, the phenomenon of unreasonable use of disposable plastic products in key areas such as retail, e-commerce, takeout, express delivery, and accommodation has been significantly reduced. E-commerce express delivery has basically achieved no secondary packaging, and the scale of recyclable express packaging applications has reached 10 million. In terms of recycling and disposal, cities at or above the prefecture level have basically established a system for classifying, collecting, transporting, and treating household waste according to local conditions, greatly improving the efficiency of plastic waste collection and transportation; The national urban household waste incineration capacity has reached about 800000 tons/day, and the direct landfill amount of plastic waste has significantly decreased; The recovery rate of agricultural film has reached 85%, and the residual amount of plastic film in China has achieved zero growth. In terms of garbage disposal, historical outdoor plastic waste from key water areas, key tourist attractions, and rural areas has been basically cleared. The leakage of plastic waste into the natural environment has been effectively controlled.

3、 Main tasks

（1） Actively promote the reduction of plastic production and use at the source.

1. Actively promote green design of plastic products. Focusing on disposable plastic products, developing green design related standards, optimizing product structure design, reducing material design complexity, and enhancing the recyclability of plastic products. (Led by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology) It is prohibited to produce products that pose a threat to the environment and human health, such as ultra-thin plastic shopping bags with a thickness less than 0.025 millimeters, polyethylene agricultural films with a thickness less than 0.01 millimeters, and daily chemical products containing plastic microbeads. The State Administration for Market Regulation and the National Medical Products Administration are responsible for strengthening the promotion and implementation of standards for restricting excessive packaging of goods, and strengthening law enforcement and supervision of excessive packaging of goods. (The State Administration for Market Regulation and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology are responsible according to their respective responsibilities)

2. Continuously promote the reduction of the use of disposable plastic products. Implement national regulations on prohibiting and restricting the sale and use of certain plastic products. The Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the State Administration for Market Regulation, the Civil Aviation Administration, the State Postal Administration, and other departments are responsible for their respective responsibilities. They have formulated the "Management Measures for the Use and Reporting of Disposable Plastic Products", established and improved a reporting system for the use and recycling of disposable plastic products, and supervised and guided retail, e-commerce, catering, accommodation and other operators to implement their main responsibilities. The Ministry of Commerce is responsible for supervising and guiding e-commerce, food delivery and other platform enterprises, as well as express delivery enterprises, to formulate rules for reducing the quantity of disposable plastic products. The Ministry of Commerce and the National Postal Administration are responsible for releasing a recommended catalog of green packaging products according to their respective responsibilities, promoting the integration of products and express packaging, promoting the direct delivery of e-commerce parcels in their original packaging, and significantly reducing the secondary packaging of e-commerce products in the delivery process. The National Postal Administration and the Ministry of Commerce are responsible for carrying out pilot projects for the large-scale application of recyclable express packaging according to their respective responsibilities. The National Development and Reform Commission and the National Postal Administration are responsible for promoting standardized circulation and sharing of logistics turnover boxes nationwide according to their respective responsibilities. Accelerate the implementation of the green product certification system for express packaging, with departments such as the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Commerce, and the National Postal Administration responsible according to their respective responsibilities. (Led by the State Administration for Market Regulation) Give full play to the exemplary role of public institutions and take the lead in reducing the use of disposable plastic products. Explore pilot projects to replace plastic bottled water with direct drinking water purifiers in reception and training venues affiliated with government agencies. The State Administration of China is responsible for strengthening publicity, education, and scientific popularization, guiding the public to develop green consumption habits, reducing the consumption of disposable plastic products, and consciously fulfilling the obligation of sorting and disposing of household waste. (Departments such as the Central Propaganda Department, the Central Cyberspace Administration, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Rural Development, the State Administration Bureau, and the National Federation of Supply and Marketing Cooperatives are responsible according to their respective responsibilities)

3. Scientifically and prudently promote plastic substitute products. Fully consider the full lifecycle resource and environmental impact of bamboo and wood products, paper products, biodegradable plastic products, etc., and improve the quality and food safety standards of related products. The State Administration for Market Regulation, the Health Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment are responsible for conducting research on the degradation mechanisms and impacts of different types of degradable plastics, and scientifically evaluating their environmental safety and controllability. The Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs are responsible for improving the standard system, issuing standards for biodegradable plastics, standardizing application areas, and clarifying degradation conditions and disposal methods. (Led by the State Administration for Market Regulation) Increase the research and transformation of key core technologies and achievements in degradable plastics, continuously improve product quality and performance, and reduce application costs. The Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology are responsible for promoting the orderly development of the biodegradable plastic industry, guiding the rational layout of the industry, and preventing blind expansion of production capacity. The National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology are responsible for accelerating scientific research and promoting the application of fully biodegradable agricultural films according to their respective responsibilities. (Led by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs) Increase the construction of degradable plastic testing capabilities, strictly investigate and punish behaviors such as false labeling and false labeling of degradable plastics, and standardize industry order. (Led by the State Administration for Market Regulation)

（2） Accelerate the standardized recycling and disposal of plastic waste.

4. Strengthen the standardized recycling and transportation of plastic waste. By combining household waste classification, we will promote the integration of urban renewable resource recycling outlets and household waste classification outlets. In large communities, office buildings, shopping malls, hospitals, schools, venues, and other places, we will reasonably layout household waste classification and collection facilities and equipment, improve the efficiency of plastic waste collection and transportation, and enhance the standardization level of plastic waste recycling. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Rural Development, the Ministry of Commerce, and the State Administration are responsible for further strengthening the standardized collection of plastic waste in passenger transportation fields such as highways, railways, waterways, and civil aviation, and promoting the effective connection between the collection of transportation vehicles, station reception, and urban public transportation and disposal systems. The Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Rural Development, the National Railway Administration, and the Civil Aviation Administration are responsible according to their respective responsibilities. They encourage e-commerce platforms (including food delivery platforms), express delivery enterprises, environmental sanitation units, and recycling enterprises to carry out multi-party cooperation, and increase efforts to standardize the recycling of plastic waste such as express packaging and food delivery boxes. The Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Rural Development, and the National Postal Administration are responsible according to their respective responsibilities to support supply and marketing cooperatives in vigorously promoting standardized recycling of plastic waste. (Led by the National Federation of Supply and Marketing Cooperatives)

5. Establish and improve a system for the collection, transportation, and disposal of plastic waste in rural areas. Improve the rural household waste classification, collection, transportation, and disposal system, establish a long-term mechanism for stable operation, strengthen daily supervision, and continuously improve the level of operation and management. Based on local conditions, coordinate the construction and services of facilities at the county, township, and village levels, and reasonably select collection, transportation, and disposal modes. Deeply implement the action of agricultural film recycling, continue to carry out the construction of demonstration counties for agricultural film recycling, promote the application of standard plastic films, and promote mechanized picking, professional recycling, and resource utilization. Carry out the action of recycling pesticide packaging materials. Support and guide major farmers and farmers, agricultural production service organizations, and recycling enterprises to actively carry out the recycling and utilization of waste agricultural and fishery materials such as irrigation equipment, fishing nets and gear, and seedling trays. (The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Ministry of Housing and Urban Rural Development, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, National Bureau of Rural Revitalization, and National Federation of Supply and Marketing Cooperatives are responsible according to their respective responsibilities)

6. Increase the recycling and utilization of plastic waste. Support the construction of plastic waste recycling projects, release a list of standardized enterprises for the comprehensive utilization of waste plastics, guide relevant projects to gather in resource recycling bases, industrial resource comprehensive utilization bases and other parks, and promote the scale, standardization, and clean development of the plastic waste recycling industry. The National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment are responsible for strengthening environmental supervision of plastic waste recycling enterprises, increasing efforts to rectify small and scattered enterprises and illegal activities, and preventing secondary pollution. The Ministry of Ecology and Environment is responsible for improving the relevant standards for recycled plastics, accelerating the promotion and application of advanced and applicable technology and equipment for the recycling of waste plastics, and encouraging the homogenization and high value-added utilization of plastic waste. (The State Administration for Market Regulation and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology are responsible according to their respective responsibilities)

7. Improve the level of harmless disposal of plastic waste. Comprehensively promote the construction of domestic waste incineration facilities, support various regions to quickly fill the gaps in domestic waste incineration treatment capacity, and in principle, cities at or above the prefecture level and counties with incineration treatment capacity or construction conditions will no longer plan or build original waste landfill facilities; Support areas with sparse populations, low waste generation, and lack of capacity to build large-scale waste incineration facilities. Build incineration treatment facilities through cross regional co construction and sharing, or conduct pilot projects for decentralized and small-scale incineration treatment facilities after technical evaluation and demonstration; Significantly reduce the amount of plastic waste directly buried. Strengthen the comprehensive renovation of existing landfill sites, improve operational management level, standardize daily operations, prohibit arbitrary dumping and stacking of household waste, and prevent the leakage of plastic waste from historical landfills into the environment. (The National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Housing and Urban Rural Development, and Ministry of Ecology and Environment are responsible according to their respective responsibilities)

（3） Vigorously carry out the cleaning and rectification of plastic waste in key areas.

8. Strengthen the cleaning and remediation of plastic waste in rivers, lakes, and seas. Give full play to the role of river and lake governors at all levels, implement the special cleaning of plastic waste within the management scope of rivers, lakes and reservoirs, establish a regular cleaning mechanism, and strive to basically clean the open plastic waste in key waters. The National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, and Ministry of Water Resources are responsible for formulating an implementation plan for plastic pollution control in the Yangtze River Economic Belt according to their respective responsibilities. (Led by the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment) carry out monitoring and investigation of marine plastic waste and microplastics. Implement special cleaning of plastic waste in areas such as bays, estuaries, and beaches, promote the establishment of a long-term mechanism for marine plastic waste cleaning in coastal cities and counties, and maintain the absence of obvious plastic waste in key coastal areas. (Led by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment) Increase the deployment of garbage collection facilities at beaches and other activity venues, and increase the frequency of garbage removal. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Rural Development is responsible for organizing research on the mechanisms, monitoring, and prevention technologies of plastic waste and microplastic pollution in rivers, lakes, and seas. (The Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment are responsible according to their respective responsibilities)

Urge ships to strictly collect, transfer, and dispose of ship waste, including plastic waste, in accordance with relevant laws and regulations, urge shipping enterprises to fulfill their main responsibilities, and crack down on illegal discharge of ship waste in accordance with the law. (Led by the Ministry of Transport) Ensure the normal operation of port receiving facilities for ship domestic waste, promote effective connection between port receiving facilities and urban public transportation and disposal facilities, implement the main responsibilities of various links in ship domestic waste receiving, transportation, and disposal, improve the full process connection and cooperation of ship domestic waste "ship port city", and strictly implement the policy of free reception of ship domestic waste in river ports within the Yangtze River Economic Belt. (The Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Housing and Urban Rural Development, and Ministry of Ecology and Environment are responsible according to their respective responsibilities)

9. Deepen the cleaning and remediation of plastic waste in tourist attractions. Establish and improve a normalized management mechanism for domestic waste in tourist attractions, increase the deployment of collection facilities for domestic waste in tourist attractions, promote the integrated collection and disposal of domestic waste in tourist attractions and urban and rural areas, and timely clean and collect plastic waste in tourist attractions. Advocate civilized tourism, strengthen education and guidance for tourists, persuade and stop behaviors such as casually discarding beverage bottles, packaging bags, wet wipes, etc., and achieve the clearance of all outdoor plastic waste in A-level and above tourist attractions. Incorporate the requirements for plastic pollution control into the quality rating standard system for tourist attractions. (The Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Rural Development, the Ministry of Water Resources, and the National Forestry and Grassland Administration are responsible according to their respective responsibilities)

10. Deepen the cleaning and remediation of plastic waste in rural areas. In combination with the improvement of rural living environment, the cleaning of plastic waste will be included in the work content of village cleaning actions. Villagers will be organized to clean the village environment, and outdoor plastic waste scattered in front and behind houses, rivers, ponds, ditches, fields, and roads will be cleaned up to promote the basic elimination of historical outdoor plastic waste in the village. By implementing systems such as "three guarantees in front of the door" to clarify the responsibilities of villagers, where conditions permit, village cleaning days, cleaning commanders, and public welfare positions for village cleaners can be established to promote the institutionalization, normalization, and long-term effectiveness of village cleaning actions. (Led by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and the National Rural Revitalization Bureau)

4、 Organizational implementation

（1） Strengthen overall coordination and implement departmental responsibilities. The National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment will strengthen overall coordination, fully leverage the role of the special work mechanism for plastic pollution control, clarify the division of responsibilities, formulate annual work points, supervise the implementation of work, and timely summarize and analyze the progress of work. The Ministry of Ecology and Environment and the National Development and Reform Commission take the lead in organizing the annual joint special action on plastic pollution control, conducting research and guidance to promote local implementation of various tasks, and incorporating prominent issues related to plastic pollution control discovered in the joint special action into the scope of central ecological environment protection supervision. Relevant departments should implement various tasks according to their respective responsibilities.

（2） Strengthen territorial management and strengthen local responsibilities. Local governments at all levels shall implement their territorial management responsibilities, take overall responsibility for the plastic pollution control work within their respective administrative regions, strengthen organizational leadership, improve work mechanisms, clarify division of responsibilities, and combine practical implementation to ensure the completion of local plastic pollution control goals.

National Development and Reform Commission

Ministry of Ecology and Environment

September 8, 2021