Chinese county halts plan for trash incinerator after protest
For a second time in a week, a local government abandons project for waste disposal after residents, concerned about health risks, take to the streets
For the second time in a week, a local Chinese government has announced it would halt plans for a trash incinerator project following angry protests by residents that underscore growing concern over threats to public health.
The government of Nan county in the central province of Hunan said on Thursday in a public notice that it would cease all work related to the project and not start up again without public support.
Mainland China is faced with the mounting challenge of disposing of solid waste generated in ever-larger cities. However, public distrust runs deep as people question their local governments’ ability to properly plan, build and manage trash incinerators.
When those projects move ahead, public anger is often stirred over fears they would cause air, water and soil pollution.
A mother’s battle against China’s polluting incinerators that ‘caused son’s health problems’
Last Friday, the Haiyan county government in the eastern province of Zhejiang halted plans for a trash incinerator after rowdy street protests.