A garbage treatment plant that is capable of treating 1.2 million units of waste household electric appliances will debut in China's capital Beijing before the end of this year.
China Huaxing Group, a state-owned company and investor of the project, has located the e-waste center in an economic and technological development zone in Yizhuang, a major manufacturing base in the southeastern part of Beijing.
Company sources said they see immense potential in the project because Beijing, one of the country's biggest consumer electronics markets, is also a major producer of e-waste.
Experts predict Beijing will produce 115,200 tons of e-waste in2006 alone, including 3.576 million units of waste TVs, refrigerators, washing machines, air-conditioners and personal computers and 2.345 million units of cell phones.
In 2010, experts say Beijingers will be throwing away 158.300 tons of e-waste.
Health specialists say e-waste contains excessive poisonous elements such as lead, mercury and cadmium that are extremely harmful to both human and the environment. Illegal e-waste collectors, however, often take away the precious metal and throw the useless parts carelessly away, causing serious pollution to soil, air and ground water.
An earlier report said a similar e-waste treatment center is also being built in north China's Tianjin Municipality and will be put into operation in September.
China is expected to enforce regulations governing the treatment of waste electrical and electronic equipment this year. The regulations stipulate that producers will be responsible for the collection, recycling and reuse of their products at the end of their life cycle. Companies that fail to do so will be fined up to 100,000 yuan (about US$12,091).
Last week, China's consumer electronics giant TCL and leading household appliance distributor Suning made a joint announcement that they will recall old TVs from consumers who buy TCL TVs at any Suning outlet in Beijing between July 16 and 31 for 200 to 500 yuan (US$24 to 60) per unit.
(Xinhua News Agency July 19, 2005)
