(Photo: VCG)

The national "waste-free city" pilot construction conference was held in Shenzhen on May 13. A two-year pilot campaign was launched in 16 Chinese cities and regions.

The two-year pilot campaign was launched in Shenzhen, south China’s Guangdong Province, to promote “waste-free city” in 16 Chinese cities and regions on Monday.

The campaign was announced at the national "waste-free city" pilot construction conference.

China’s Ministry of Ecological Environment explained that a "waste-free city" is not one without solid waste, nor does it mean that solid waste can be fully recycled. Reducing quantity at the source, preventing secondary pollution at the source and minimizing landfill amount are the connotation of the concept.

In December 2018, The State Council issued the pilot work plan for the construction of waste-free cities, which selected 11 cities and five regions from 60 candidate cities as pilot cities for the construction of "waste-free city", such as Shenzhen. At the same time, Xiongan New Area and Beijing economic and technological development zone, as special cases, are promoted to the pilot construction of "waste-free city".

"Human beings need to find effective ways to eliminate industrial, agricultural and domestic wastes that nature cannot absorb," officials from the Ministry of Ecological Environment said the pilot project is exploring a way for people and nature to live in harmony.

As the initiator proposing the "waste-free city" for the first time in China, Du Xiangwan, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, thinks that pilot construction of "waste-free city" will bring remarkable environmental, economic and social benefits.

(Compiled by Zhu Yurou)