The 2022 Internal Discussion Meeting on the National Appropriate Mitigation Action Project in the Field of China’s MSW Was Successfully Held

On June 30, 2022, the internal discussion meeting of the national appropriate mitigation action project in the field of MSW in China was held in Beijing. Representatives from the MoHURD Bureau, Lanzhou City Management Committee, Suzhou Municipal Environmental Sanitation Management Office, Tai’an Municipal Environmental Sanitation Management Office, Xi’an Municipal Bureau of Urban Management and Comprehensive Law Enforcement and related units participated in the meeting.

The minutes of the meeting are as follows:

1.Discussion on development trend, obstacles, and practical needs of the sanitation industry from a management perspective

Mr. Liu Jinghao, Deputy President of the CAUES made an analysis of the development of the national sanitation industry. Firstly, the sanitation industry faces new situation and challenges on the operation side, especially the marketization of sanitation industry. Secondly, after the marketization of the operation side is realized, the need of supervision on the management level is enhanced. Thirdly, the supply system of sanitation equipment and technology still needs to be strengthened. He mentioned that it is expected that the cities will express their insights freely and share their problems and practical needs. CAUES will follow up by setting up research topics to provide services in the coming steps.

Xi’an: Firstly, establish a macroscopic, whole-process and whole-environmental supervision system in sanitation industry. Secondly, the fee system reform is at a time of conquering difficulties, which suggests that relevant guidance should be given. Thirdly, waste segregation has made significant progress in cities, but is still in the initial stage in rural areas, which need corresponding support.

Suzhou: Firstly, it is recommended to study and develop a fee system that matches the waste segregation, and to clarify whether the fee system improves the waste segregation and how much it improves the effectiveness. Secondly, in the implementation of “fixed time, fixed-points” waste segregation, there’s a problem that residents may miss the drop-off time of waste. It is suggested to analyze this problem through a third party/institution and come up with solutions. Thirdly, it is suggested to establish a develop a unified evaluation system and standard indicators for waste and give clear accounting methods. Fourthly, for the resource utilization of kitchen waste, exchange and discuss within the industry, and provide solutions for exploring the real resource utilization rate and waste components.

Lanzhou: Firstly, analyze of the developing trend in the national industry: (1) Integrated services in the sanitation industry, the introduction of the concept of physical management of the city, namely, sweeping, protection, transport, disposal, greening, etc. are included in the integrated management model of environmental sanitation; (2) Intelligent sanitation operation mode (airports, terminals, subway stations); (3) Humanized configuration of facilities, landscaping, gardening and ecological construction of waste disposal sites.

Secondly, suggestions on the national policies and standards: (1) For the accounting of the amount of incinerated waste entering the plant and the amount of incinerated waste entering the furnace that occurs during the operation of the Fengquan waste incineration plant, corresponding standards should be studied to provide technical support; (2) It is suggested that more funding should be provided to support the sanitation industry; (3) It is recommended to establish a national sanitation workers’ holiday, to improve the treatment of sanitation workers and to give preferential policies.

Finally, suggestions to the NAMA project: (1) It is recommended to pay attention to whether there is duplication of subsidies in different segments of kitchen waste and incineration under the waste segregation scenario; (2) Provide technical analysis support in the entry of investment enterprises in the waste disposal industry to ensure that they can achieve sustainable operations; (3) Promote third-party intervention to supervise the waste segregation and achieve recycling in the community

Bengbu: Firstly, it is suggested to provide national and international best cases and experience as reference, especially in waste segregation; Secondly, it is recommended that the CAUES could provide support on technology, standard and regulation, especially in the relationship between the designed disposal capacity of waste incineration facilities and the actual disposal capacity.

Mr. Liu Jinghao summarized the responses:

Sanitation industry development trend: There are mainly three aspects in the intelligent sanitation: Change the current mechanization operation vehicles to new energy vehicles; Digital management system of vehicles should be established; The impact of robot operations on the sanitation industry remains to be observed and further discussed. Build a multifunctional and intensive sanitation complex and organize research work on the demand for sanitation digitalization.

Suggestions on further steps: The establishment of national sanitation worker’s day has been under discussion in MoHURD since 2019, it can be further discussed if there’s any updates; MoHURD will organize a new series of awareness-rising activities on waste segregation; there will be a national-level study of the waste charging system; the exchange among the pilot cities on the advanced experiences and communication should be improved.

Dr. Liu Xiao, Project manager of IWM NAMA Project introduced the next steps of the project:

May-June, online data collection of emission reduction data.

The first Carbon-Training is completed in April and there will be two trainings in the coming months.

Production of Output video and brochure.

Organize research studies according to suggestions from the pilot cities.

2.IWM NAMA Video production

Dr. Liu Xiao, Project manager of IWM NAMA Project showed the video of “Rethinking Plastics Project” as an example and discussed on the shooting and production of NAMA video. The main story line of the video should be carbon emission in waste industry, the five pilot cities share the same goal and show themselves in a different/special way.

Xi’an suggested to film the technical transformation of waste treatment to show the changes in treatment methods, supervision, and management.

Lanzhou: By filming the recycling resource utilization industrial park to show the waste reduction; combining ecological civilization and waste reduction at source, reflecting the beauty of Lanzhou’s “Yellow River” urban characteristics; suggesting filming the integrated disposal demonstration site.

Suzhou: The project results should be presented digitally and quantitatively; it is suggested that each city should choose a different and special style of shooting; a group photo of the participants should be added at the end of each pilot city.

Bengbu: It is recommended to take a practical approach, focusing on the industry and intra-city issues and pay attention to details.

Mr. Liu Jinghao: Recommends that the video shooting script and outline should be implemented as soon as possible, with the emission reduction in the waste industry as the main line, interspersed with various pilot cities, using existing material, and making good trade-offs and planning.

Ms. Meng Xiaoxuan showed the time plan of video production:

July 1st-7th, Determine the theme of each city.

July 8th-31st, Determine the shooting script and outline for each city.

August 1st- September 30th, video shooting in pilot cities.

October 1st- November 30th, video production.