In 2009, Guangzhou city government planned to build a garbage incinerator in Panyu but it ended up shelving that project because of strong objections from residents.

The project has also sparked controversy among environmental experts.

Zhao Zhangyuan, a researcher from the Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, said incineration can certainly cause pollution.

"Burning garbage produces many poisonous gases, even when advanced technology and equipment is used," Zhao was quoted by local media as saying.

Zhao, a prominent figure in the fight against burning garbage in China, disputed claims that garbage incinerators are safe if they are built more than 1.5 kilometers away from homes.

But Xu Haiyun, chief engineer with the China Urban Construction Design and Research Institute, said garbage incinerators will not harm people's health because they will only discharge gases strictly in line with the State's standards.

"A garbage incinerator was built in the downtown area in Bonn, Germany, and similar facilities have been constructed near homes in Japan," Xu said.

Guangzhou is currently dealing with more than 12,000 tons of household waste every day. Most of it is either burned, buried or composted.