Chinese Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan said on Thursday the development of
a recycling economy is the key link between saving resources and
environmental protection.
Zeng said in a video conference on recycling economy development
held by the State Council that innovation should be the driving
force in developing a recycling economy and only by recycling
natural resources could the energy bottleneck be relieved and
pollutant emissions reduced.
The State Council put forward targets for China's recycling
economy during the 11th Five-Year period from 2006 to 2010.
By 2010, China's per unit GDP energy consumption will be reduced
by 20 percent, per unit industrial output water consumption be cut
by 30 percent, the utilization ratio of mineral resources be
increased by five percentage points, use of industrial solid waste
be up 60 percent and emissions of major pollutants be down by 10
percent.
Solid clay bricks will be banned in urban areas by 2010 and all
coal-fired generators should be equipped with sulfur-removal
systems before 2015.
The conference considered six aspects of developing a recycling
economy: enhancement of energy and other resources saving; clean
production; the utilization ratio of resources; development of
actual recycling; pilot projects; and innovation capability.
(Xinhua News Agency December 22, 2006)