Home > United Nations Online Network in Public Administration and Finance (UNPAN)
1. Global
Global
2. Africa
Africa
3. Arab States
Arab States
4. Asia & Pacific
Asia & Pacific
5. Europe
Europe
6. Latin America & Caribbean
Latin America & Caribbean
7. North America
North America
UNPAN Asia & Pacific




Public Administration News  
Share
China Works for Safe Dangerous Waste Disposal
Source: china.org.cn
Source Date: Thursday, November 01, 2012
Focus: ICT for MDGs
Country: China
Created: Nov 06, 2012

The Chinese government has released a guideline to ensure all dangerous wastes produced by major licensed units at or above city levels will be safely disposed of by 2015.

"Our country's prevention of pollution from dangerous wastes started late with a weak foundation and historical consequences. The pressure will be huge and the situation will remain austere until 2015," said the guideline jointly adopted by the Ministry of Environmental Protection, National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the Ministry of Health.

The document, which was made public on Monday, praised the progress made in that regard between 2006 to 2010, citing that licensed waste-producing units safely disposed of 8.4 million tonnes of dangerous wastes in 2010, up 180 percent from 2006.

It urged strengthened control of harmful wastes from the sources, supervising all waste-processing procedures as well as integrating legal, administrative, economic and technologic measures to stem illegal dumping of wastes and improve waste-treating capacities.

The guideline came after a series of waste dumping cases affecting local environments and people's health.

In May, seven people received jail terms from a local district court after two companies in southwest China's Yunnan Province were found to have dumped 5,000 tonnes of chromium-contaminated waste near a local reservoir and on nearby hills from April to June last year.

Ensuing rainfall reportedly washed some of the chemicals into local water supplies, causing the deaths of 77 heads of cattle. No human deaths have been attributed to chromium pollution in the case, but at least 14 local residents have been diagnosed with cancer since 2002 and many suspect their diseases were caused by contaminated drinking water.

The guideline set a goal of having 90 percent of units producing dangerous wastes at all levels and 95 percent of those dealing with these wastes at all levels to meet government management standards by 2015.

In addition, the document set down several key missions including surveying dangerous waste, developing an industry to utilize these wastes, and boosting capacities to safely dispose of heavy metal and medical wastes.
News Home

 Tag This
 Tell A Friend
 Favorite
del.icio.us digg this Slashdot
Rate:
0 ratings
Views: 371

Comments: 0 Favorited: 0 Bookmarked: 0 Tagged: 0



0 Comments | Login to add comment

Site map | FAQs | Terms and Privacy | Contact Us
Copyright 2008-2010 by UNPAN - United Nations Public Administration Network