Managing Organizations’ Waste under the Environmental Policies for Reaching Sustainable Development in China (Case study: Sinopec Shanghai Petrochemical Company Limited “SPC)

Abstract

The world economic is competing to reach sustainable development, which is a balance between economic development, social equity and environmental sustainability. However this approach can be achieved by following laws and regulations to protect the environment and provide a healthy environment for the long-run. There are several factors that affect negatively the environment and thus may have negative effects on community and at the same time may hinder the wellbeing and sustainable development. This research will focus on waste management that aims to maximize practical benefits from products and to generate the minimum amount of waste. All industries, all communities, and all countries must ensure compliance with waste management laws and regulations, and Effective waste management helps to ensure the long term sustainability. Waste management in its different types whether solid, liquid, gaseous or radioactive; from different sources should be accomplished to reduce the harmful environmental impacts through different methods: reduction, re-use, recycling, recovery, treatment and disposal. Waste management practices differ for developed and developing nations, for urban and rural areas, and for residential and industrial producers. And ‘‘Zero waste’’ seems to be a difficult but not impossible task. If various options for waste management can be integrated and applied over long periods, waste minimization can be addressed effectively and sustainably. With the economic development in China, the quantity of waste increased, however the control of waste pollution is an important aspect of environmental protection in China and the government has set policies for governing and controlling waste management This research will focus also on Sinopec Shanghai Petrochemical Company Limited “SPC”, which is a petrochemical conglomerate with highly integrated production and operations of petroleum products, petrochemicals, synthetic fibers and plastics, also the first one in Sinopec to have been rationalized under joint-stock system. An essential link in the Company's development plan is to balance the relation between production development and environmental protection in line with the national restriction in the discharge of pollutants so as to implement the sustainable development strategy.