To enhance marine litter management in coastal cities and promote a harmonious relationship between humans and the ocean, Zhejiang Province has unveiled its first comprehensive marine clean-up strategy. The Implementation Plan for Marine Litter Clean-Up in Coastal Cities of Zhejiang Province, developed by the Provincial Department of Ecology and Environment in collaboration with seven other departments, aims to establish long-term waste management practices while improving the well-being of coastal residents.
Key Objectives
- By 2025: Achieve immediate and effective management of marine litter in key gulfs, supported by expanded “blue recycling” initiatives.
- By 2027: Eliminate g of gulfs with more than 5% litter coverage, creating widespread clean and healthy marine environments.
Six Core Measures:
- Comprehensive Marine Litter Management:
- Establish a closed-loop system for preventing, collecting, and disposing of marine litter.
- Enhance maritime supervision and ensure full coverage of waste management infrastructure.
- Collaborative Prevention:
- Strengthen coastal waste collection, recycling, and disposal systems.
- Upgrade infrastructures, particularly in riverside villages where waterways feed into the ocean, and increase patrols along waterways to reduce litter inflow.
- Refined and Fragmented Management:
- Introduce innovative strategies by assigning clear accountability to relevant entities.
- Ensure litter-free beaches, promote waste collection in ports and aquaculture areas, and encourage responsible disposal practices among fishermen.
- Standardized Waste Classification:
- Establish village-level collection facilities to promote responsible waste sorting and disposal,
- Enhance anti-pollution measures at ports and encourage recycling initiatives.
- Digitalized Regulation:
- Leverage technology to strengthen marine litter monitoring and accelerate the development of a government platform for oversight.
- High-Value Reuse:
- Explore the economic potential of marine waste by expanding the “blue recycling” model.
- Promote the establishment of a Marine Plastic Traceability Certification System to guide high-value reuse initiatives.
The plan emphasizes the need for an effective accountability framework, consistent financial support, efficient supervision and assessment mechanisms, and extensive public awareness campaigns to foster a sustainable and clean marine environment.
