The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), China's top economic planner, has released a new regulation over the charging standards for urban household garbage disposal to promote sustainable development.

A garbage processing plant in Hohhot,  North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. (Photo: China News Service)

The regulation said the charges for solid waste treatment should cover the cost and ensure a reasonable profit while efforts will be increased to support sorting, reducing, recycling, and harmless disposal of garbage.

Cities and towns will establish a comprehensive charging system for collecting and processing household waste by 2020, and local governments are also encouraged to introduce measures to attract the participation of enterprises, according to the NDRC.

Different charges will be levied against sorted and unsorted garbage while non-resident users and some eligible residents will pay according to a metering system, said the regulation.

To promote environmental improvement, rural areas that have implemented a waste disposal system will explore a charging system with full consideration of factors such as local economic development.

Efforts will also be made to improve charging standards for disposal of hazardous wastes and ensure monitoring of the entire process of hazardous waste collection, transportation, storage, and disposal.