Beijing moves towards waste sorting
Beijing’s 21 million residents generate 26,00 tonnes of domestic waste per day. It is the second city in the country after Shanghai to start waste sorting. Offenders can expect stiff fines.
Beijing (AsiaNews/Caixin) – In a few months, Beijing will become the second city in China to impose compulsory domestic waste sorting.
A regulation unveiled on 18 December is set to come into effect on 1st May 2020, requiring all households to sort their trash according to separate methods of disposal (incineration, landfill, recycling).
The new rules for Beijing’s 21 million residents are similar to those in place in Shanghai (29 million inhabitants) since July 2019.
The amount of waste generated in China is colossal. Data from Beijing ‘s urban management commission indicate that from January to October 2019, the city generated more than 7.9 million tonnes of household waste, that is 26,000 tonnes per day.
China’s State Council (cabinet) wants 46 Chinese cities to implement waste sorting by the end of this year.
China’s Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development has divided waste in four categories: recyclable materials, hazardous waste, “wet” or organic garbage, and “dry” waste.
The new rules require that waste not be mixed. Offenders will be fined 20,000 to 100,000 yuan (US$ 2,900 to 14,500).
According to some analysts, it will take several years to educate the population to follow these rules.
Furthermore, Beijing cannot presently meet the criteria for waste removal and processing.
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04/07/2020 10:03
26/08/2022 11:13
