Little Blue Houses go long way to boosting circular economy

Numerous plastic waste classification and recycling stations, known as Little Blue Houses, dotting the 6,715-kilometer-long coastline of Zhejiang province in East China, are playing a pivotal role in the fight against marine plastic pollution.

These houses are a core component of the Blue Circle project, China's largest environmental initiative aimed at addressing the pressing issue of marine plastic waste. In 2023, Blue Circle was given the Champions of the Earth award by the United Nations Environment Programme — the UN's highest environmental honor.

After local volunteers sort through recyclable plastic debris at the Little Blue Houses, the materials are transported to Zhejiang Vision-Blue Technology Co, a high-tech company specializing in marine sustainable development. From there, the waste is sent to a recycling facility where it undergoes a series of processes, including crushing, cleaning, melting and granulation.

The journey of each piece of plastic, from coast to factory, is meticulously tracked using internet of things devices and blockchain, ensuring the traceability and transparency of the origin of the plastic. Each batch of marine plastic waste is assigned a unique QR code containing details of the full recycling process from start to finish.

According to UNEP estimates, over 9 million metric tons of plastics enter the oceans annually. Plastic waste ending up in the sea ranges from microplastics to large debris such as bottles and bags, which can take hundreds of years to degrade, threatening the marine ecosystem.

While recycling offers a potential solution to reducing the demand for new plastic production, and thus helping curb emissions from plastic manufacturing, incineration and landfills, it faces challenges in terms of collection logistics and high recycling costs.

"The average price of recycled marine plastic pellets is 1.3 times that of primary plastic pellets. The good quality of marine plastics, coupled with their environmental and social benefits, justifies their premium price," said Chen Yahong, director of the marine business unit at Zhejiang VisionBlue Technology Co.

"Many clients, including international brands, are willing to pay more for recycled marine plastics, as it aligns with their growing sustainability needs," she said.

Recycled plastics from the Blue Circle project, including PET(polyethylene terephthalate) plastics derived from ocean waste, significantly reduce carbon emissions. The emissions from recycled PET are about a quarter of those associated from virgin PET.

According to Chen, the recycled plastics of the Blue Circle project have helped reduce 3,900 metric tons of carbon emissions.

These recycled materials are repurposed into a variety of products, including clothing, electronics, phone cases, stationery, shopping bags and T-shirts.

Zhu Liyang, president of the China Association of Circular Economy, said: "The Chinese government has placed a strong focus on tackling plastic pollution, implementing comprehensive governance across the entire waste management chain. By recycling discarded plastics and ensuring proper collection, these materials can be reintegrated into the supply chain."

The circular economy is an important path to achieving green transformation, Zhu emphasized. "In recent years, there has been a noticeable shift toward green living and consumption, creating vast opportunities for the development of China's circular economy," he said.