Policymakers and experts from the Northwest Pacific region gathered in Dalian, China, in September 2019 to discuss how to improve waste management to address marine litter at source.
The Northwest Pacific Action Plan, the Trilateral Environmental Ministers Meeting with China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea, joined by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China, jointly organized the marine litter management workshop in Dalian in September 2019. The theme of the meeting was "Improvement of waste management to reduce marine litter into the oceans."
Qingjia Meng, from the Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, announced that China issued a technical specification for waste plastics recycling in 2019; technical specification for plastics waste recycling and sorting in 2016; and ship pollutants emission standard in 2018. In April 2012, the State Council issued the "12th Five-Year Plan for the Construction of Harmless Treatment Facilities for Urban Domestic Wastes". On 21 January 2019, the State Council issued a workplan on the Zero-Waste City Pilot Program in China, which promotes the reduction, recycling, and environmentally sound disposal of waste. By the end of 2020, 46 major cities must complete their waste sorting and processing system. Before 2025, prefectural-level cities are targeting to complete the domestic waste classification and treatment system.
Tatsuya Abe from the Ministry of Environment of Japan announced that the Cabinet of Japan approved the 4th Fundamental Plan for Establishing a Sound Material-Cycle Society on 19 June 2018. It sets a medium- to long-term strategy for the establishment of a sound material-cycle society in Japan and indicates measures to be implemented. The pillars of the plan include the local circular and ecological sphere, proper waste management and environmental restoration, international resource circulation, resource circulation throughout the entire lifecycle, and disaster waste treatment systems.
Sora Yi from the Korea Environment Institute highlighted the Comprehensive Plan for Marine Plastics Reduction in Korea adopted on 29 May 2019. It includes the measures to manage the entire lifecycle of marine plastics from their generation to collection and treatment, aiming to reduce marine plastics by 30 percent by 2022 and 50 percent by 2030 compared to 2018. The plan envisages to reduce marine debris generation, increase the volume of marine debris collection, recycle marine plastics, enact marine waste management laws, and significantly expand public participation.
Daria ZADOYA, from the Maritime State University named after Admiral Nevelskoy of the Russian Federation, introduced the waste management system reform in the Far East area. A regional operator is responsible for waste management from landfill to recycling. Tax on waste management has been increased. It is planned to increase the proportion of material reuse and recycle to 60 percent. Clean-up campaigns have been organized in the Russian Federation regularly.
The participants used a good opportunity given by the meeting to share their experience and best practices, as well as measures to counter challenges. The International Environmental Technology Center of UNEP, its Regional Office for Asia and Pacific, the Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia, and the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat have also actively participated in these knowledge exchange sessions. Photo Credit: Dalian Environmental Protection Volunteers Association
