A major drive to tackle the country's growing solid waste disposal problem is gathering pace.

The Ministry of Construction and the Asia Development Bank (ADB) are working together in a bid to find solutions for the increasing amount of solid waste being produced by the cities of China.

Solid wastes treatment specialists from home and abroad gathered in Beijing this week to help the Ministry of Construction map out a national strategy on urban disposal.

Data from the Ministry of Construction show that the country has seen a rapid increase in the production of solid wastes in recent years -- with an annual growth rate of 9 percent. Last year, an estimated 110 million tons of solid waste was produced in the cities.

Some cities facing a rapid population increase and improving living standards have seen the production of wastes rise by 15 to 20 percent over the last two decades.

Industrial waste production has also increased sharply over the same period and some 650 million tons of such wastes are produced each year.

Experts suggest that the country should have both public and private sectors from home and abroad involved in the treatment of solid wastes in cities.

Larger and more competitive companies with better technology and facilities should be encouraged. Small companies should be merged or invite overseas investment to reorganize.

The experts gave the suggestions at the two-day international seminar that closed Thursday.

"Participation of both national and international companies will provide an opportunity for the exchange of management skills and technologies in the area of waste management,'' David Campbell, project team leader said.

Based on results of a 10-month case study in seven Chinese cities including Shanghai and Nanjing, experts with the bank and the ministry have drawn up a proposal strategy.

The ADB provided US$600,000 of technical assistance for the project.

The strategy framework aims to significantly improve the quality and sustainability of waste management practices in China over the next 20 years.

Another urban environmental expert said public awareness and participation is also crucial to China's urban waste management.

"International experience shows that those countries whose population has high levels of awareness and strong commitment to environmental protection have the highest performing waste management services and China should follow the examples,'' Nancy S. Convard, urban environmental specialist and ADB official suggested.

The importance of public participation in the decision-making process, both for developing environment policies and plans, and in accepting future practices or facilities is undoubtedly increasing in China, Nancy said.

She said the role of the public in supporting future waste management services will help families pay an increasingly large part of total costs for household waste collection and disposal.

The public should be encouraged to be involved in approval processes for waste management schemes, she said.

Fu Wenjuan, vice-minister of construction said her ministry, which is responsible for urban waste management, will take the strategy seriously.

"I personally believe the strategy will help China establish a well-run mechanism to manage urban waste, and we can implement the action plan included in the strategy in some pilot cities,'' Fu said.

(China Daily 08/10/2001)