During this year's "Singles' Day," Xiao Wu, who lives in Beijing, has once again activated his shopping mode. After a wave of consumer frenzy, dozens of courier packages accumulated in his home, and how to deal with these packages has troubled Xiao Wu.
Beijinger Xiao Wu: In the past, I would just throw it directly into the trash can outside. Now that we have to sort our waste, I only know that this paper box is recyclable, but I don't know how to sort these fillers, sponges, tape, plastic bags...
The variety of express packaging is complicated, how should it be handled? Which packaging can be recycled? Reporters randomly interviewed some citizens on the streets of Beijing and found that most people are not very familiar with this issue.
Reporter: How about your own packaging?
Beijingers: Just throw it away, we'll give it to those scrap collectors in our community who will give it to those old men.
Beijing residents: For example, the paper box is recyclable, but I'm not sure if other plastics and foams are recyclable or not. Generally, they will be thrown into other garbage.
Beijingers: paper boxes are recyclable, plastic should be other waste.
Turns out these packages are recyclable.
So, which packaging materials can actually be recycled? In response to this question, Feng Yueyue, a young woman from Anhui in her 20s who is involved in the recycling industry, has specially recorded a video on express packaging, teaching everyone step by step where to place the packaging materials.
Volunteer for waste classification in Lu'an, Anhui Province, Feng Yueyue: Today, let's talk about which of these packaging materials for express delivery can be recycled. First of all, everyone knows that such cardboard boxes should be recyclable. Such foam plastics may be thrown everywhere in the countryside, but plastic foam can be recycled. This outer film is a high-pressure PE (polyethylene) film, which can also be recycled. Plastic films with a large area can also be recycled. After the "Double Eleven", if you have such waste at home, you can put it in the recyclable waste bin.
Professor Wen Zongguo from the School of Environment at Tsinghua University: When we sort and recycle packaging materials, we may often overlook the fillers such as plastic foam and plastic packaging materials that were just mentioned. In fact, they can still be recycled, or at least, we must ensure that they are disposed of in a formal sanitation system to reduce damage to the environment.
In recent years, the volume of express delivery in our country has grown rapidly. The monitoring data of the State Post Bureau shows that from November 1st to 11th this year, the national postal and express delivery enterprises have processed 3.965 billion pieces of express delivery, among which the express delivery volume on the 11th day reached as high as 675 million pieces, a year-on-year increase of 26.16%. At present, 80% of the paper-based express delivery packaging materials in our country can be recycled and utilized, while 99% of the plastic express delivery packaging waste, due to its low recycling value, cannot be effectively utilized. In response to this issue, some cities are exploring the encouragement of enterprises to participate in the collection and processing of low-value recyclables in the form of government purchasing services. In an environmental company in Beijing, journalists saw that the staff of the company accept all recyclables provided by residents, regardless of their value.
"Love Classification" Environmental Co., Ltd., General Manager Xu Yuanhong: There are two lines, one is market behavior, for example, in the market, waste recycling, it may only want high-value recyclables, low-value it does not want, it is this kind of picky, and we are holding the government's waste classification subsidy, I am eating both fat and lean together, the goal is to reduce waste, to balance.
Express packaging should be promoted for reuse
In fact, many express delivery boxes are still intact after the goods are taken out, and directly enter the recyclable cycle system, which wastes resources and may pollute the environment. It can be directly reused. Regarding the recycling of express packaging, relevant departments in China have regulations. Journalists investigated and found that although not many people know about this service, the public generally welcomes this service.
Journalist: Have you tried calling the courier company to pick up the full boxes or plastic bags?
Beijingers: I didn't know about this service, and I didn't call them to recycle more. I think it's quite environmentally friendly.
Beijingers: I think it should be, because a lot of boxes are thrown into the trash can and I don't know how they will deal with them.
Reporters’ investigation found that as early as 2017, the “Guiding Opinions on Coordinating the Promotion of Green Packaging in the Express Industry” jointly issued by 10 departments, including the State Post Bureau, clearly encouraged the promotion of recyclable packaging in the whole process of e-commerce products and express delivery. The “Solid Waste Pollution Prevention and Control Law,” amended in 2020, also clearly stipulates that the express, food delivery and other industries should give priority to the use of reusable and recyclable packaging materials. Reporters contacted some major express companies, and customer service personnel all said that although the company does not currently carry out such business, consumers can try to contact nearby express collection points to have their packaging materials picked up if they have accumulated a certain amount.
Experts say that many packaging materials for express delivery are still in good condition after one use. If they are directly put into the waste recycling system for regeneration, it not only consumes a lot of resources, but may also cause environmental pollution. Direct reuse is the best way.
At present, the reuse of paper packaging in China's express delivery industry is still in the initial and spontaneous stage, with a reuse rate of only about 5%. To promote this method, consumers should try not to damage the packaging when opening the express delivery, and keep the packaging intact, while express delivery companies should also take on the responsibility of producers, and study how to make recycling more convenient and reduce the cost of recycling.
Professor Wen Zongguo from the School of Environment at Tsinghua University: One is to provide convenience for everyone to recycle, to have a place to put it, and to cooperate with the waste recycling industry. For example, if a recycling company takes care of these packaging wastes for you, can you give him some kind of incentive mechanism or create some conditions for him, such as whether he can help you build these recycling facilities to help you recycle.
In addition, experts also believe that government departments should formulate corresponding standards for the recycling of packaging materials by express companies, to truly implement the law, promote enterprises to bear relevant responsibilities, and promote the formation of a full chain of recycling of express packaging materials.