How can it be implemented in a sustainable way? For several years, this has been a “soul torture” of garbage sorting. This article comes from the WeChat public account: The economic Observer (ID: eeo-com-cn) , author: Dong Ruiqiang, original Title: “Is Beijing’s Waste Treatment Capacity Enough? “Compulsory Classification, How to Solve the Pain of the Benefits Behind”, the title picture comes from: Visual China
After cities such as Shanghai and Hangzhou, Beijing is also about to enter the era of mandatory waste sorting.
On the afternoon of April 22, the wind was very strong. A row of seven or eight garbage bins near Huilongguan East Street in Changping District, Beijing appeared quite messy. Standing on the side of the road, a pungent smell could be heard.
A middle-aged uncle walked slowly from the shop next door. He threw the black plastic bag full of garbage into a bucket near the roadside three or four meters away from the trash can .
People are already accustomed to such scenes. The middle-aged uncle told reporters: “There has been no habit of classification before.”
He does n’t even know that a few days later, Beijing is about to enter the era of mandatory garbage classification.
All this will gradually change. From May 1, 2020, the new version of “Beijing Municipal Waste Management Regulations” (referred to as “Regulations”) will be officially implemented, which provides that Beijing Supermarkets, shopping malls, bazaars and other commodity retail places shall not provide free plastic bags; catering operators, distribution service providers and hotel operating units shall not actively provide consumers with disposable chopsticks, forks, spoons, toiletries, etc.
According to the “Regulations”, any violation of the regulations will be ordered by the market supervision and management department to be corrected immediately, and a fine of 5,000 yuan to 10,000 yuan will be imposed; if the regulations are violated again, 10,000 yuan to 50 will be imposed000 yuan fine. If the individual violates the rules, the person responsible for the classification management of domestic garbage shall discourage; for those who refuse to obey the dissuasion, the person responsible shall report to the comprehensive law enforcement department of city management, which shall give a written warning; fine.
Behind the policy, a real problem has emerged: rapid urbanization and the increasing amount of garbage generated have already caused city managers to face difficulties. According to statistics from the China Urban Environmental Hygiene Association, national household waste in the country exceeds 150 million tons per year and increases at an annual rate of 8% to 10%. In addition to county seats, 688 cities across the country already have two-thirds of large and medium-sized cities that have encountered garbage problems. The city’s annual resource losses due to garbage are worth 25 to 30 billion yuan.
Beijing, a mega-city, has been groping for waste sorting for many years. The classification standards have been changed many times, from the two-point to three-point method, and now to the four-point method of “kitchen waste, recyclables, hazardous waste and other garbage”. Almost all the rounds of vigorous actions ended with a lack of awareness of classification at the front end and the absence of back-end processing facilities.
On April 21, an insider Xu Xianghui from the Beijing Municipal Management Committee (pseudonym) told the Economic Observer, ” In fact, when the previous round of Beijing promoted garbage classification, to a certain extent, it did go too fast, and the back-end construction could not keep up. “
How exactly can it last? For several years, this has been a “soul torture” of garbage sorting.
Different from Beijing ’s previous garbage classification pilots since the late 1990s, the mandatory constraints of this legislation will become a major feature. This is an unprecedented change like other cities that entered the era of mandatory waste sorting last year.
Preparation is still in progress
Before the implementation of the “Regulations”, Beijing has never stopped preparing for this garbage classification test.
Xu Xianghui told reporters from the Economic Observer, “We have established a municipal class for garbage sorting, and all preparations are being carried out intensively, such as the docking of barrel trucks and personnel training. The overall preparation is Yes. “
He said: “Recently, some communities have replaced the new garbage cans with classification signs. Although they are much behind our original plan, they are indeed moving forward.Hurry, some of the offline publicity, but also affected by the epidemic, choose online lectures, open online courses, etc., with the help of vibrato, Weibo to promote. In fact, it also adds to the atmosphere. “
A property manager in Changping District said, “I was notified last year that the trash bins were replaced, and they all have classification labels. However, because there is no supervision, the implementation of garbage classification is not ideal.”
“However, after May 1 this year, we will arrange for someone to stare and guide the owners to classify the release. As far as the fines are not heard, we are more reminders and reminders, the key is that the industry is mainly prepared to participate actively Come in. “She said.
Before, the Beijing Municipal Urban Management Committee formulated and issued the “One Big Four” policy-“Beijing Municipal Solid Waste Classification Action Plan” and 4 implementation methods, including 11 categories, more than 60 specific tasks, listed The schedule, road map and mission statement before May. Xu Xianghui revealed that a garbage mobilization meeting will be held in the near future.
“Actually, our previous requirements were deployed based on no epidemic situation. The epidemic situation does have an impact on waste sorting, such as the production, transportation, and inter-provincial movement of related companies. A lot of work has been done in these months The focus is on the epidemic, especially at the grassroots level. “Xu Xianghui said that although we have continued to promote the completion of relevant tasks during the epidemic, some tasks have actually been completed or are nearing completion.
He told reporters that the previous consideration was to let the community follow the instructions of the person in front of the barrel, but due to the epidemic, it must be arranged according to the community situation and ability. We also understand that some communities are really tired, and we are not sure whether the posts in front of each community can be lifted by May 1st. Is there enough manpower to stare at the barrel?
The aforementioned property supervisor said, “Last year we also had someone on duty at the trash can to guide the sorting. But it did not last. We are now preparing for May 1st.”
In order to facilitate the operation of residents, the Beijing Municipal Urban Management Committee is also contacting Gehua Cable, Baidu, etc. to launch a small garbage classification program. Xu Xianghui revealed, “We are also considering whether we can cooperate with Baidu, although it is not yet mature, it is to use its big data algorithm to assist in the classification of waste.”
On April 16, 2020, the “Beijing Garbage Classification Collection” has been officially launched, and text, photos, and voices can be used to query what kind of garbage is classified and how to put it in.
Xu Xianghui believes that after the “Regulations” are actually implemented, the public will really participate in the situation where legislation requires them to be large. Moreover, after experiencing the baptism of the epidemic situation, everyone’s environmental awareness and public health safety awareness are also improving.
Sun Xinjun, director of the Beijing Municipal Management Committee, said at a previous meeting that all departments and units at all levels should classify domestic waste as a “top leader” project, and implement the responsibility to every street, town, community and every unit. It is necessary to build a comprehensive assessment and evaluation system for garbage classification. This year, we will strengthen garbage classification and environmental management of streets and alleys.
Different from Shanghai
Lan Yajun, director of the waste classification committee of the Guizhou Provincial Ecological Civilization Construction Research Institute, who has been working on waste classification for a long time, said, “Last year, we looked at Shanghai and this year, we looked at Beijing. In fact, Beijing is now warming up.”
However, Beijing, which is currently affected by the epidemic, did not appear to be as fiery as China, which was represented by Shanghai last year, entered the era of mandatory waste sorting.
On April 23, a reporter from the Economic Observer reviewed the major e-commerce shopping platforms and found that compared with the week before July 1 last year when Shanghai implemented mandatory classification, the sales of garbage sorting bins have not reached the limit of purchase. Within a year, the public seemed to become more rational. The sudden arrival of the regulations did not cause a huge response in this mega-city with more than 21 million permanent residents.
Song Guojun, a professor at the School of Environmental Studies at Renmin University of China and director of the Institute of Environmental Policy and Environmental Planning, said: “There is no strong feeling about the upcoming mandatory waste sorting in Beijing.” “Some communities have not been implemented yet. It’s not as hot as it was last year. It has been responding to the epidemic, and the preparations may not be completed yet, and it may be done while improving. “He said.
On April 22, a take-out brother leaning on a roadside motorcycle was watching the latest order with his mobile phone attentively. He told a reporter from the Economic Observer, “We have not yet received the 51 Takeaways must not take the initiative to provide news of disposable tableware. “
He never considered whether this would affect his work. He focused his eyes on the phone again, as usual.
Beijing during the epidemic prevention and control period, many community gates are tightly guarded. A reporter from the Economic Observer visited the site and learned that in some communities in Changping, many of them have been replaced with new classified garbage bins, but it is found that the colors of the bins are repeated. Some residents still have the habit of not sorting.
Because of mode selection, Beijing has its own characteristics. Xu Xianghui said: “In recent years, Beijing has been pushing out the pilot community for garbage classification and compliance. It is not necessary to copy the Shanghai model. It will definitely be adapted to local conditions. We will guide and operate based on some more mature community experience.”
For example, Haidian residential community will adopt three delivery modes: fixed, mobile and other modes. Each community will have at least one classified post, and the “four-category” barrel station combination will have special staff on duty. One place is set for 300 ~ 500 households.
Beijing’s quartile is different from Shanghai in terms of classification criteria. Xu Xianghui explained that whether it is the logo of the barrel, or the color and classification name of Beijing, it is consistent with the requirements and specifications of the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, which is basically carried out strictly according to the requirements of the Ministry of Construction.
“In fact, we really hope that this will become a national unified requirement. To a certain extent, at least the name and color can be unified, and the national mobility is very large. The different classification versions will bring some inconvenience and give people a feeling. It would be strange. “He preached.
Lan Yajun also believes that Beijing ’s classification standards are more scientific and reasonable than Shanghai ’s.
In his view, the Shanghai garbage classification is somewhat similar to the classification of men, women, children, and bad guys. But one of the biggest advantages of Shanghai is the higher level of social governance. There are many experiences for Beijing to learn from.
However, Lan Yajun did not agree to spread out like Shanghai. He believes that waste sorting is a huge and complex system project, a slow and delicate task, and all aspects of the industrial chain before and after the classification, delivery, collection, transshipment, and treatment must be done well. Beijing produces such large-scale living garbage, does food waste have a place to go? “Shanghai’s garbage classification has some success, but it still needs to be further improved in the effectiveness of garbage classification,” he believes.
Sun Xinjun said, “As long as the melon skin leaves and leftovers are left out for food waste, if you do n’t understand it, you can put it in other garbage bins if you do n’t know what to do, it ’s over 80 points.”
Questions
Who will be responsible for supervision after the mandatory implementation of Beijing garbage classification? How to solve the fundamental problem behind the interest game? How much will the cost increase and is the end capacity sufficient? “These are unclear, and a question mark needs to be considered. The relevant information must also be disclosed in a timely manner, and it cannot be a mess. But so far, no more measures have been seen by the competent authorities.” Song The monarch said.
Is it operable to fine the offender?
In Song Guojun ’s view, the punishment itself is also very complicated, how to deal with it after the punishment? Moreover, only law enforcement agencies have the right to enforce, not community supervisors. How to resolve a dispute? In fact, more education, guidance, encouragement andWays of economic stimulus. But it is also very difficult to get rid of the inhabitants’ inherent habits, which requires a process. We have done an experiment before, many teachers are okay in the first week, but after a week it has no effect, it is difficult to persist. Therefore, it is necessary to set up a supervisor, otherwise some will do, some will not do, and eventually they will return to the original point.
Chang Jiwen, deputy director of the Research Institute of Resources and Environmental Policy of the Development Research Center of the State Council, also believes that fines and credit sanctions cannot be easily set up for waste sorting. At the same time, it should not be too luxurious. For example, there are too many “bonsai”, which is too intelligent and visualized, making it difficult to copy and promote.
Is garbage classification effective? In fact, it is also testing the end of the industry chain.
“It’s a toss about the front end, and it’s still a pot of stew in the back, so it doesn’t make sense, so the end link should also be open and transparent.” Song Guojun said.
Xu Xianghui told the Economic Observer that Beijing ’s end-of-line processing capacity can meet the needs of daily household waste sorting and processing, and waste sorting will continue. We also considered the back-end to decide the front-end, and also added some kitchen waste treatment facilities last year.
“Previously there was a problem that the back-end could not keep up with the front-end. Because it takes several years to build a waste incineration plant, the cycle is long, and there are EIA procedures. The front-end goes a little faster.” Xu Xianghui introduced, At present, the docking of barrel trucks in various communities in Beijing is gradually being realized and promoted. Special buckets, special vehicles, and special transportation will not cause too many wet garbage points in other places, which cannot be handled. If the landfill and incineration are concentrated, what is the point of separating the garbage?
“In fact, what kind of treatment facilities are available at the back end and what resource requirements are at the front end. We must resolutely put an end to the mixed transportation of garbage, and this time there are law enforcement guarantees,” he said.
According to the requirements of the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, by the end of 2020, 46 key cities will basically have a garbage classification system. By 2022, there will be at least one district in cities at all levels to achieve full coverage of domestic waste classification. By 2025, cities at prefecture level and above will basically build a garbage classification and treatment system.
Continuity
How can garbage classification continue? Song Guojun said that if the entire waste sorting industry chain is not opened, the back end has not yet been completed, and the light front end classification will not play much role. In fact, the reason for not doing well for so many years is this. However, the fundamental interest issue behind it has not yet touched.
Lan Yajun also believes that waste sorting must be determined by the back end, and pushed forward from the back end. Conditions of the entire garbage collection and transportation system in BeijingIt may not be complete yet, we need to make an overall design for the front, middle and back ends, and the various links match each other. No longer like other cities, the front end is full of heat, the middle end is sleepy, and the back end is full of sorrow.
“So first of all, we must make up the industrial chain and fully open it. At the same time, we must ensure that the industrial chain can have reasonable profits so that enterprises can operate normally. The three policies, technologies and models must be organically combined and supported. On this basis, we will proceed Propaganda and mobilization. Some people think that the unsuccessful waste classification in China is due to the poor quality of the residents. This is wrong. We should not bear this ‘pot’. Residents have the responsibility and obligation to do a good job of waste classification, but if the industry chain has not been established, Not only will it reduce the enthusiasm of the residents, but the credibility of the government will also suffer. “He said.
In addition, Lan Yajun believes that because of the downward pressure on the economy and the impact of the epidemic, many local governments are very tight. Beijing should concentrate its superior strength as much as possible to do a good job of sorting out household garbage in one or two districts and counties, and gradually and gradually replicate it. The possibility of doing it well will be greater.
This industry chain does face some interest games.
Cheng Huiqiang, a researcher at the Development Research Center of the State Council and a deputy secretary-general of the China Development Research Foundation, told the Economic Observer that the government now pays subsidies for waste-to-energy power generation. The key issue is accounting by quantity, and even companies sign agreements with local governments. The amount of garbage on site is not enough, and the government still has to quantify the subsidy according to the contract. This interest pattern obviously runs counter to the “reduction” of the front-end garbage classification.
He believes that to change, it is necessary to move the focus of subsidies forward to the classification and transportation links, especially to increase the collection and disposal subsidies for wastes with low market value. The waste treatment fee subsidy should also be changed to qualitative accounting. Through the adjustment of economic levers, a mechanism of profit forcing is formed, thereby jumping out of the vicious circle of “more garbage generated-more garbage incineration plants-more government subsidies”. The best working pattern for promoting garbage classification is the integration of the sanitation network and the renewable resource network.
Lan Yajun said, “The better the garbage classification is, the less garbage enters the landfill and incineration of power plants, so that their subsidies will be less. To achieve successful garbage classification, the national policy must be matched, only Stimulated by economic levers and market-oriented operation, garbage classification can truly embark on the road to marketization and industrialization, and only then can it be sustained. “
This article comes from the WeChat public account: Economic Observer (ID: eeo-com-cn) , author: Dong Ruijiang