The International Day for Zero Waste is observed annually on March 30. Hunan, Hubei, and Jiangxi provinces jointly held a themed event on that day, releasing exemplary cases on the building of "zero-waste cities" in the three provinces along the middle reaches of the Yangtze River. These cases showcased the three provinces' achievements in the coordinated governance of ecological environment, as well as the phased progress made in the comprehensive treatment of solid waste and the construction of "zero-waste cities."

Hunan Province has been placing great importance on the building of "zero-waste cities." The government issued a series of policy documents, such as the Plan of Hunan Province on Building "Zero-Waste Cities," and established an inter-departmental coordination mechanism involving 27 relevant departments. 

Under the guidance of such mechanism, Changsha and Zhangjiajie have been approved to build the national-level "zero-waste cities," while several "zero-waste corporations" have been authorized, such as the Hunan Mineral Resources Group and the Hunan Nonferrous Metals Holding Group.

At the event venue in Hunan, 23 exemplary cases and experiences for building "zero-waste cities" and "zero-waste corporations" were presented, spanning management of industrial solid waste, construction waste, household waste, hazardous waste, agricultural waste, and medical waste, as well as recycling of renewable resources. 

Changsha and Zhangjiajie spokespersons presented their respective achievements in building "zero-waste cities." Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture demonstrated its technological innovations and engineering practices for harmless treatment and recycling of manganese slag. Lanshan County in Yongzhou shared with the audience its vision for achieving the goal of being a "zero-waste county." 

The Hunan Mineral Resources Group and the Hunan Nonferrous Metals Holding Group explained their experiences in tackling solid waste challenges in mining and nonferrous metals sectors. The Hunan Anhua Lactic Acid Factory showcased its circular utilization practice to transform "forest waste" into "green electricity."

During the event, Hunan launched an initiative for building "zero-waste cities." A spokesperson from the provincial department of ecology and environment stated that Hunan will take this event as an opportunity to improve the entire-process management system for solid waste, deepen cross-regional coordinated governance, and continue to create a "Hunan model" for the construction of "zero-waste cities," thereby providing solid ecological support for building a beautiful Hunan and promoting the high-quality development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt.

This article is from Hunan Provincial Government. www.enghunan.gov.cn.

Translator: Pang Yuehui

Chinese source: hunan.gov.cn