Waste classification is necessary for incineration

The Chinese government is taking measures to push forward municipal solid waste (MSW) incineration. However, experts said on Friday that burning garbage has environmental risks and can only be promoted on the premise that garbage classification becomes the norm in China.

Four government departments including the National Development and Reform Commission jointly released a guideline on strengthening MSW incineration, according to a statement posted Friday on the Chinese government’s official website.

By the end of 2020, more than half of domestic waste will be treated through incineration in certain cities, the statement said.

Apart from incineration, domestic waste is also disposed of at landfills. Compared with the latter, incineration requires less land. The residual heat from burning MSW can also be recycled, the statement noted.

Qian Hua, who used to work as deputy director at the Atmospheric Environment Institute at the Shanghai Academy of Environmental Sciences, said that landfills cause irreversible damage to the soil. But he stressed that incineration also bears environmental risks.

“Before MSW incineration can be largely promoted in China, it’s very important that garbage classification be carried out in the country. The government should put this on the agenda and make relevant laws and regulations,” Qian noted.

Qian said that the cost of building incineration facilities should be higher than constructing landfills, but that incineration is the best option for dealing with daily waste so far.