塑料餐盒再生不再是资源的“末端处置”

Core Viewpoint - The recycling of disposable plastic food containers in China is transitioning from marginal treatment to large-scale, high-value regeneration, with a significant increase in recycling rates and total volume [1][2]. Group 1: Recycling Rates and Volume - The recycling rate of polypropylene (PP) food containers in China reached 29.6% in 2023, surpassing the average recycling rate of low-value plastic packaging at 16.3% and approaching the national overall waste plastic recycling rate of 31% [1]. - The total amount of recycled plastic food containers in 2023 reached 400,000 tons, a 60% increase compared to 2020 [1]. Group 2: High-Value Applications - Approximately 29% of recycled materials are used in the packaging industry, 15% in automotive manufacturing, and 13% and 12% in electronics and home manufacturing, respectively [2]. - The proportion of high-value applications has increased by 6 percentage points since 2020, indicating a shift away from low-end products in plastic recycling [2]. Group 3: Governance and Industry Development - China's plastic recycling industry has developed a unique path characterized by "enterprise-led + government-enterprise collaboration + technology-driven" approaches over the past three years [2]. - Leading enterprises are driving industry layout, forming a closed-loop industrial chain that includes recycling, sorting, cleaning, and granulation [2]. Group 4: Challenges in the Recycling Industry - A lack of unified national recycling standards hinders the scale and standardization of the industry, leading to management friction and limiting cross-regional resource allocation [3]. - The trend of complex container designs increases recycling and reuse costs, with some products becoming "recyclable but unprocessable" due to added colors, coatings, or composite materials [3]. - Public participation in recycling efforts remains inconsistent, with many areas still relying on manual sorting by cleaners or volunteers [3]. Group 5: Recommendations for Improvement - The establishment of national standards for "easy to recycle, easy to regenerate" design is essential, promoting the use of single-material, transparent PP products [4]. - A standardized recycling chain system should be developed, including identification systems, graded management mechanisms, and quality traceability platforms [4]. - Policies should shift from incentivizing end-of-life disposal to guiding source reduction and a full-chain responsibility mechanism, encouraging proactive consumer participation in recycling [4].