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Tianjin to Sweep out White Pollution
North China's Tianjin port city has begun a rigorous inspection to curb white pollution caused by plastic bags and tableware.
Plastic bags and tableware became popular only a few years ago because they were cheap and convenient. Being non-biodegradable and usually reprocessed from used plastic, they carry a great deal of pathogenic bacteria and are harmful to people's health.
Since last November, the local government prohibited the production and sale of traditional plastic bags and containers, which are primarily used in restaurants and cafeterias. Plastic producers who violate the decree will be seriously punished.
Cui Yucheng, vice director with the Environmental Protection Administration of the city, said Tianjin is one of the cities in China that have suffered severely from white pollution. Over one million plastic bags and tableware are thrown away every day.
At present, an estimated 11 million tons of plastic garbage were disposed of in China annually and the figure in the world as a whole reached around 170 million tons every year.
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