Guangzhou: New Initiative to Recycle Plastic

According to a study led by Jenna Jambeck of the University of Georgia relayed by Quartz, 4.8 to 12.7 million tons of plastic entered the sea in 2010, 28% of which came from China. The excessive production and consumption of plastic in China seems to outpace municipal governments’ capacity to manage and recycle it.

However, some solutions have been suggested. For example, in Guangzhou the local government has recently announced that subsidies will be offered to companies to process recyclable waste of little value, such as glass, timber and plastic (one ton of waste is worth 90 RMB). The first waste transfer centre is currently under construction, the government’s goal being to recycle an average of 1400 tons of petty waste per day.