Chapter 3
Actions and Achievements in the Major Fields of Sustainable Development
Section 13 Control of Solid Wastes
I. BackgroundII. Actions and Achievements3.80 As a result of its extensive production pattern, China's industrial solid waste output is about 644 million tons each year, of which 2.4% is considered hazardous (poisonous, reactive, corrosive, explosive, or flammable) waste. Urban domestic trash production amounts to 100 million tons. Therefore, it has become an important task to reduce the amount of solid wastes and render them harmless.
3.81 Control of solid wastes
In October of 1995, China promulgated the "Law of the People's Republic of China on the Prevention and Control of Environmental Pollution by Solid Waste". This law has brought the control of solid waste (especially hazardous waste) into the legal structure. Since 1992, China has promoted waste minimisation in the industrial departments. Efforts have been made to conserve resources, reduce consumption, recycle, and make comprehensive use of wastes. Meanwhile, a series of solid waste storage and disposal facilities have been built. These efforts remarkably reduced the amount of industrial waste from 33.76 million tons in 1991 to 22.42 million tons in 1995. Also, the amount of waste poured directly into rivers, lakes, and seas each year has dropped from 11.81 million tons in 1991 to 6.49 million tons in 1995.
3.82 Solid waste registration and experiments on waste exchange
In order to identify the variety, characteristics, quantity, and pollution situation of solid waste (especially the hazardous types), find out major sources of pollution, and to promote waste utilisation and disposal, China has conducted experiments of solid waste registration in 17 cities, including Nantong, Jinan, Shenyang, and Shanghai since 1992. In terms of waste registration, the government has begun to carry out a permission and transfer report system for the centralised utilisation and disposal of wastes. In April of 1993, the National Environmental Protection Agency promulgated the "Implementation Programme of Experiments on Waste Exchange", which defines the waste exchange's basis, type, treatment process, procedure, experiment requirement, etc. Three years of experimental work has laid a solid foundation for waste exchange.
3.83 Construction of facilities for urban hazardous waste disposal
In order to safely dispose of hazardous wastes, China has built a standard waste disposal plant in Shenzhen City. Regional centralised waste burning and burying plants are also being built in Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. These plants have improved the cities' environment.
3.84 Safety monitoring and management of radioactive wastes
In 1992, the Chinese Government promulgated the "China's Environmental Policy on the Disposal of Middle- and Low-Level Radioactive Waste". Examination of the operation of the Qinshan and Daya Bay Nuclear Power Plants has shown that the land gamma radiation levels around the plants and the radioactive elements in soil, water, air-dissolved rubber, sediment, and biological samples are all within the datum scope. A model plant is under construction for the disposal of radioactive wastes from the Daya Bay Nuclear Power Plant.
3.85 Control of hazardous wastes import
In order to control the import of hazardous wastes, in 1991 China promulgated the "Circular on the Strict Control of Transfer of Hazardous Waste into China". After several experiences with hazardous waste import, China promulgated in November of 1995 the "Urgent Circular on Resolute and Strict Control of Transfer of Foreign Waste into China". Also, in March of 1996, the government promulgated the "Provisional Regulations on Waste Import and Environmental Protection". China is resolutely prosecuting those discovered to have imported hazardous waste. The government also urged the countries concerned to observe the "Basel Convention on the Control of Trans-Boundary Transfer, Disposal, and Treatment of Hazardous Waste" and has instructed the enterprises concerned to return the waste to the donor country and make compensations for relevant loss.
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