China drafts new rules to prevent use of polluting plastics in agriculture
- Farmers will be allowed to use only film that meets quality standards and must also collect plastic waste from fields before its expiry date and deliver it to approved recycling outlets
- Plan for a plastic management system has been opened to the public for consultation
China will tighten regulations on the use of plastic film by farmers to boost crop yields, which has become a major source of soil contamination throughout northern and western regions, according to a draft policy document published on Friday.
The new rules, which have been opened to the public for consultation, will involve the establishment of a management system covering the production, sale, use and recycling of thin plastic film in the countryside.
Chinese farmers, mostly in the arid north and west, cover fields with vast amounts of plastic mulch to help maintain soil moisture and protect against pests.
The technique had played an important role in boosting yields and raising the quality of crops, the agriculture ministry said in a notice.