Taiyuan Pioneers Waste-free City Development

Taiyuan, capital of North China's Shanxi province, was included on a list for the development of "waste-free cities" during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25), announced the Ministry of Ecology and Environment on April 24.

"Waste-free city" is an urban development model that promotes the formation of green development methods and lifestyles and the reduction and resource utilization of solid waste sources. It is meant to minimize landfill and the environmental impact of solid waste.

This does not mean that no solid waste will be generated, nor does it mean that solid waste can be fully utilized as a resource. Rather, it is an advanced urban management concept that aims to significantly reduce solid waste, fully utilize resources, and safely dispose of solid waste throughout the entire city.

On Dec 15 last year, 18 ministries and commissions under the State Council jointly issued a plan proposing that the State promote about 100 cities at prefecture-level and above to develop into "waste-free cities".

Taiyuan has attached great importance to this initiative and listed it as the city's annual key task. Formulation of the implementation plan and other related work are currently underway.

The city will increase the comprehensive utilization capacity of industrial solid waste and realize the standardized, refined and informationized management of hazardous and medical waste. 

It also aims to implement domestic garbage sorting in all areas, establish harmless centralized disposal facilities, better utilize resources, and safely dispose of construction waste, sewage plant sludge, agricultural solid waste, and other waste.