CCTV9英语新闻：Jilin Province takes the lead on plastic shopping bags

A new year with a new prospect¹: Jilin province in northeast China has approved the country's first ban on the production and sale of single use, non-biodegradable plastic shopping bags. The ban went into effect on the first day of the year.

 

"For me I'm willing to pay 1 or 2 Yuan for each bio-degradable plastic bag," Changchun resident Dong Xueren said.

 

"To reduce the amount of white trash is good for the people and good for society," Changchun resident Zhang Suying said.

 

At one of the downtown supermarkets in Changchun, locals have said goodbye to the white trash that clogs² waterways and spoils the landscape. Alternatively, they can now either bring their own shopping bags or simply grab one over the counter.

 

"We've noticed the reaction from our customers following the ban order, people are giving a positive response to the new bio-degradable plastic bags even if they are more expensive, and they think a better environment is what matters," Wang Xiaowei, floor manager of Ouya Outlets³, Changchun, said.

 

It is a fact that almost every piece of plastic we have ever thrown away 50 years ago is still here on this planet and will be here for centuries to come. In 2007 the central government laid a soft approach on limiting the use of non-biodegradable plastic bags, but what Jilin province is doing now is to test the water on a much stricter rule - putting an end to the non-recyclable, toxic⁴ carriers.

 

"The use of bio-degradable plastic bags -- like the ones we produce -- is very common consumer behavior in the EU and some other developed countries. The problem in popularizing such green products in China is that the cost of biological raw materials is still high, and it can only be brought down once more people start using them," Larry Lin, general manager of Becausewecare Environmental Industry Co., Ltd, said.

 

As the order goes into effect, what counts now is not letting the ban gradually lose its binding⁵ power.

 

"Tough measure must be followed by close supervision⁶, there should be no room for omission⁷ or leniency⁸ on those who break the rule. The provincial⁹ government has made comprehensive plans while assessing the ban and we are prepared for possible resistances," Song Gang, deputy director of Development & Reform Commission, Jilin Province, said.

 

1 prospect   

n.前景，前途；景色，视野

参考例句：

• This state of things holds out a cheerful prospect.事态呈现出可喜的前景。
• The prospect became more evident.前景变得更加明朗了。

2 clogs   

木屐； 木底鞋，木屐( clog的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Clogs are part of the Netherlands national costume. 木屐是荷兰民族服装的一部分。
• Clogs are part of the Dutch traditional costume. 木屐是荷兰传统装束的一部分。

3 outlets   

n.出口( outlet的名词复数 )；经销店；插座；廉价经销店

参考例句：

• The dumping of foreign cotton blocked outlets for locally grown cotton. 外国棉花的倾销阻滞了当地生产的棉花的销路。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They must find outlets for their products. 他们必须为自己的产品寻找出路。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

4 toxic   

adj.有毒的，因中毒引起的

参考例句：

• The factory had accidentally released a quantity of toxic waste into the sea.这家工厂意外泄漏大量有毒废物到海中。
• There is a risk that toxic chemicals might be blasted into the atmosphere.爆炸后有毒化学物质可能会进入大气层。

5 binding   

有约束力的，有效的，应遵守的

参考例句：

• The contract was not signed and has no binding force. 合同没有签署因而没有约束力。
• Both sides have agreed that the arbitration will be binding. 双方都赞同仲裁具有约束力。

6 supervision   

n.监督，管理

参考例句：

• The work was done under my supervision.这项工作是在我的监督之下完成的。
• The old man's will was executed under the personal supervision of the lawyer.老人的遗嘱是在律师的亲自监督下执行的。

7 omission   

n.省略，删节；遗漏或省略的事物，冗长

参考例句：

• The omission of the girls was unfair.把女孩排除在外是不公平的。
• The omission of this chapter from the third edition was a gross oversight.第三版漏印这一章是个大疏忽。

8 leniency   

n.宽大（不严厉）

参考例句：

• udges are advised to show greater leniency towards first-time offenders.建议法官对初犯者宽大处理。
• Police offer leniency to criminals in return for information.警方给罪犯宽大处理以换取情报。

9 provincial   

adj.省的，地方的；n．外省人，乡下人

参考例句：

• City dwellers think country folk have provincial attitudes.城里人以为乡下人思想迂腐。
• Two leading cadres came down from the provincial capital yesterday.昨天从省里下来了两位领导干部。