The Ministry of Construction on Monday issued its Management
Method of Urban Household Garbage, which will come into effect on
July 1. According to the method, urban residents caught illegally
disposing or piling up garbage could face fines of up to 200 yuan
while organizations guilty of the same infraction could be fined
from 5,000 to 50,000 yuan.
The method also sets up varying garbage disposal fees based on
local standards. Companies violating these stipulations will face
fines of up to 30,000 yuan, with individuals fined 1,000 yuan for
refusing to pay them. These new regulations will also see local
governments listening to public opinion when designing new
household garbage disposal plans, garbage collection coordination
and the location and size of future disposal plants.
According to the method, landfill sites, compost and
incineration plants should all be built in areas that fit both
urban and rural planning guidelines. New forms of more stringent
supervision will be imposed on processing techniques, equipment
management and environmental protection. Garbage disposal plants
must also ensure they are equipped with methane-detection
instruments and online inspection systems, facts will be monitored
by relevant construction and environment authorities.
The method also outlined a new system for garbage classification
that would allocate specific trash cans or collecting sites to
various types of garbage, although this system will see gradual
implementation.
(China.org.cn by Huang Shan, June 6, 2007)
