The European Commission released a green paper on plastic waste on the 7th to solicit public opinions on improving the utilization efficiency of plastic products and reducing the impact of plastic products on the environment. The European Commission pointed out in a press release issued on the same day that once plastic products enter the environment, especially the marine environment, their degradation cycle is often as long as hundreds of years. At present, more than 10 million tons of waste are dumped into the ocean every year around the world, most of which are plastic products, making the ocean the world's largest "landfill" of plastic waste. Janez Potocnik, the European Commission Commissioner responsible for environmental affairs, said that how to deal with plastic waste is a major challenge to environmental protection, and it is also a major opportunity to improve resource utilization efficiency. The Green Paper is a form for some national and regional governments to solicit public opinions on important issues. This green paper from the European Commission details the role of plastics in all aspects of industrial production and the potential effect on economic growth of increasing plastic recycling rates. The green paper points out that with the increase in population and the increasing consumption of resources, the recycling and reuse of plastics will become another option for consuming resources. In order to speed up this process, considerations such as recycling and environmental protection need to be included in the design of plastic products. The European Commission will conduct further consultations and solicit opinions on issues such as the reuse of plastic waste. The results will be synthesized after the consultation deadline on June 7, 2013, and incorporated into relevant legislative recommendations in 2014. Source:
